TAMPA, Fla. ? The University of South Florida softball team split a double header with Long Island University on Friday night at the USF Softball Field.
The Bulls (25-12) defeated LIU 1-0 in extra innings to take game one. Sophomore Alison Savarese drove a double to center field and scored pinch runner Merrill Robinson in the ninth inning to give the Bulls a 1-0 victory over the Blackbirds.
In game two USF and the LIU traded seven scoreless innings before Long Island's Chelsea Martinson crossed home plate on Mariesha Marker left field double to put the Blackbirds up 1-0 at the top of the eighth. USF failed to match LIU's run on their turn at bat.
Bulls' pitcher Courtney Mosch and LIU's Blaire Porter engaged in a pitching battle through eight innings to keep the first game scoreless. Mosch struck out seven batters and allowed just one hit. Porter, who pitched the complete game for the Blackbirds, gave up six hits in the game.
With one out at the top of the ninth, junior pitcher Cristi Ecks came out of the bullpen in relief of Mosch to strike out the next batter before the inning ended leaving one runner on base.
BIG EAST Player of the Week JoJo Medina ripped a double down the middle. Freshman Merrill Robinson pinch ran for Medina and put the Blackbirds away on Savarese's double.
Savarese finished game one 3-for-4 in the batter's box.
Ecks, now 5-3, was credited with the win in the circle.
Game two saw another pitching battle, this time freshman Capri Catalano took the circle for the Bulls. Catalano shut out LIU striking out five Blackbirds and allowing one hit through six innings of work before Mosch came in relief of Catalano at the top of the sixth.
The Blackbirds registered three hits in the eighth frame, including Mariesha Marker's center field RBI double that scored the winning run of the game.
USF matched Long Island's four hits, junior Britta Giddens registered half of those going 2-for-4 in game two.
The Bulls will meet LIU for a third game on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the USF Softball Complex in Tampa, Fla.
