University of South Florida
Robert Morris
Four Home Runs And Solid Pitching Efforts Lead To Series Sweep Of RMU
March 06, 2007 | Softball
TAMPA, Fla. (March 6, 2007) ? Four home runs and solid pitching efforts in the circle led the University of South Florida softball team to a 4-1, 3-0 sweep of Robert Morris University in doubleheader action at the USF Softball Field Tuesday night.
In the first game, USF (16-7) started a trend early and often and used the long ball to score all of its runs. Three Bulls hit home runs in consecutive innings and all three were hit over the left-field fence. The three-home run outing tied the USF single-game record.
Jessica Landau opened up the scoring, hitting her first blast of the year to give the Bulls a 1-0 lead. Alison Savarese followed Landau with a first-pitch two-run homer in the fourth. Carly Griffin hit a solo homer in the fifth, which was the 13th of her career and put her in eighth place in the career record books.
Bree Spence improved her record to 3-1 on the season. The Clearwater, Fla., native pitched six and two-third innings, allowing one run on seven hits. Her 10-strikeout performance tied her career high and she edged closer to the 300 strikeout mark with a three-year total of 298.
Three of Spence's strikeouts came in the second inning and at a very opportune time. After Robert Morris loaded the bases with no outs, Spence shut down the Colonials' scoring chance with three-straight Ks.
Robert Morris (1-3) ended the Bulls shutout in the seventh inning, scoring a run. With two runners on base and the tying run at the plate, Cristi Ecks was called into the circle and got the last out of the inning on the first pith she threw, a grounder back to the pitcher. Ecks picked up her second save of the year and the seventh of her career.
In the second game, USF didn't wait too long to take a small lead, scoring a run in the first inning. After Aya Nakajima led off getting hit by a pitch and then stole second base, Danielle Urbanik drove her in with a single up the middle.
The Colonials tried to even the score in the top of the second inning, but USF starting pitcher Kristen Gordon thought otherwise. After a USF error and a base hit put runners at second and third for Robert Morris, Gordon shut down any possible scoring attempt striking out three-straight batters on 11 pitches.
The Bulls added a run to their lead in the second and third inning, 3-0. Savarese crushed her second home run of the day over the left-field fence in the second inning. Ashley Bullion continued the scoring into the third inning, knocking in Britta Giddens from third base with a single to right center.
Gordon pitched a three-hit shutout with eight strikeouts and no walks in her first-career complete game.
The Bulls continue action Thursday through Sunday when they travel to Clearwater, Fla. to host the adidas Invitational at the EC Moore Complex.
