TAMPA, Fla. ? The University of South Florida softball team split a pair of games against the University of Massachusetts at the USF Softball Field in Tampa, Fla.
The Bulls dropped the first game, 2-0, and won the night-cap 2-1. USF improves to 22-11, while UMass is 10-11 for the season.
Junior pitcher Cristi Ecks gave up two runs and struck out five in 5.2 innings of work before Kristen Gordon came in as a relief two outs into the sixth.
USF batters recorded three hits against the Minutewomen, including a right field double from senior Aya Nakajima.
UMass scored both runs in the top of the sixth when, with two outs and a runner on base, Samantha Salato capitalized off an outfield error to advance to third and score an unearned RBI for the Minutewomen. One batter later, Salato crossed home plate on a double to put UMass up 2-0.
In game two of the double header, freshman Kendall Arnold drove the game-winning homerun to centerfield in the bottom of the sixth to put the Minutewomen away.
Pitcher Capri Catalano picked up the win at the circle allowing one hit, and striking out two batters. Senior Courtney Mosch started in the circle for the Bulls. Mosch gave up two hits and one run through 5.1 innings pitched.
USF scored first in the third inning as leadoff hitter Britta Giddens reached home on a Kit Dunbar single to left field. Giddens drew a walk to reach first and stole second before advancing to third on a single from Tara Toscano.
Dunbar went 2-for-3 with an RBI in game two.
The Bulls will return to action Thursday as they face Canisius at the Stetson University campus in Deland. That game is scheduled for 5 p.m.
