TAMPA, Fla. (March 14, 2007) ? After losing to Indiana 1-0 in game one, Bree Spence tossed a one-hit shutout and the University of South Florida softball team's offense exploded for eight runs to defeat George Mason, 8-0, in five innings on Wednesday night in the final day of the Spring Break Tournament at the USF Softball Field.
Spence (4-4) pitched all five innings and stuck out six while not allowing a walk in game two. She retired six straight batters before giving her lone hit ? an infield single ? to lead off the third inning.
Ecks (6-4) was the pitcher of record in the first game and gave up one run on five hits in six innings.
On the day, three USF players batted .667. Britta Giddens and Tara Toscano both went 4-for-6, while Danielle Urbanik batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Kit Dunbar also knocked in two runs and was one of three other players to have a two-hit day.
In game one, a leadoff single by Julia Hamilton came back to score on the Bulls despite a great defensive effort. Hamilton popped up to shallow left field and Toscano laid out and made a diving catch, but it was ruled the ball hit the ground for a single. A double by Jennilee Huddleston was all Indiana (10-9) needed to score the go-ahead run.
USF (21-13) had it chances to get on the board, but stranded nine runners in the game.
The Bulls exploded in game two against George Mason (7-10), scoring four runs in the opening inning as the entire USF order made a plate appearance. Giddens led off with a single and got to third on a groundout and a steal. Dunbar hit a chopper to the shortstop, scoring the run while she remained safe at first on an error. After Danielle Urbanik doubled Dunbar home, Ashley Bullion's sacrifice fly scored Urbanik. Jessica Landau closed out the scoring with an RBI single.
After USF scored another run in the second inning, the Bulls offense surged in the fourth, taking an 8-0 lead. With runners at the corners, Dunbar tallied her second RBI on a fielder's choice. After the Bulls loaded the bases with two outs, a throwing error on a routine grounder to the shortstop turned into a two-base error, scoring the final two runs.
The Bulls will host their final tournament of the season Friday-Sunday when they welcome 15 teams for the Speedline Invitational at the Greco Softball Complex.
