CLEARWATER, Fla. (March 10, 2007) ? Kristen Gordon and Cristi Ecks combined for two hits and 15 strikeouts to lead the University of South Florida softball team to a 2-0 victory over Northern Illinois in bracket play of the adidas Invitational on Saturday night. The Bulls will advance to play Fordham on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at the EC Moore Complex
Gordon (6-2) pitched four and two thirds innings allowing one hit while setting a new personal best with 10 Ks. Cristi Ecks' five strikeouts in two and one-third innings put her career total at 302, putting her in seventh place in the career record books. She also picked up a save, which was the eighth of her career and ties Bree Spence and Leigh Ann Ellis for fourth place all time.
Kit Dunbar led all players going 3-for-4 with a run scored, and Ashley Bullion had a team-high two RBI.
USF (18-11) opened up the scoring in the top of the third inning, taking a 2-0 lead. USF got runners on second and third base after a Dunbar single to right field was misplayed and both runners advanced an extra base. Bullion cleared the bases with a double to left center.
Northern Illinois (6-9) made a move in the fifth inning and loaded up the bases with two outs, but reliever Cristi Ecks struck out the final batter to get out of the jam.
