Box Score - Game 1 | Box Score - Game 2
TAMPA ? The University of South Florida softball team (29-12, 4-0) completed a perfect BIG EAST opening weekend defeating Seton Hall 3-0 in the first game of the doubleheader, followed by a 9-1 six-inning run-rule victory in game two on Sunday afternoon.
“I'm very proud of what the girls did out there today,” head coach Ken Eriksen said. “There are a few things that we need to improve on as we continue conference play. This weekend, however, good pitching and good defense really pulled us through.”
Junior pitcher Cristi Ecks picked up her seventh win of the season in game one against the Pirates, her second victory in league play. Ecks struck out eight Pirates, allowed just one hit and didn't give up a run or a walk in four and two-thirds innings of work.
Courtney Mosch was awarded her third save of the season as she struck out three batters, while allowing one hit in two and one-thirds innings.
The Bulls' first run came in the second inning as sophomore Alison Savarese led off with a double to left field and scored on an infield single from senior Aya Nakajima.
Nakajima's hit loaded the bases for freshman pinch hitter Kendall Arnold. Arnold drew a walk to score Mosch and put the Bulls up 2-0 in the bottom of the second.
In the sixth, JoJo Medina reached first on a hit by pitch and scored on Mosch's centerfield sacrifice fly.
Mosch finished 1-for-2, with one run and an RBI, while Savarese went 2-for-3 with a run.
In the second contest of the doubleheader, freshman Capri Catalano struck out ten batters to improve her record to 8-0 and earn her first BIG EAST Conference win as the Bulls run-ruled Seton Hall 9-1 in six innings.
The Bulls scored four runs in the first inning and five in the sixth to put the Pirates away.
After a pair of singles to lead off the first inning, Tara Toscano and Kit Dunbar advanced bases on a double steal. Junior Britta Giddens loaded the bases as she drew a walk.
Savarese singled to the pitcher to score Toscano and advanced to second on a pitcher's error. Dunbar scored on the error to make the score 2-0 with one out in the first.
Mosch, who finished 2-for-2 and a season-high four RBI, singled up the middle to score Giddens. Mosch took advantage of the throw to move ahead to second base, while Giddens ran all the way past home plate.
Catalano struck out seven batters in order to keep the Bulls in scoring position throughout three innings.
Seton Hall's lone run of the day came off a fourth-inning homerun by Kealan Waldron. The Pirates were unable to carry off the rally as Catalano retired the next three batters in order.
The Bulls completed the weekend sweep in the sixth inning when USF loaded the bases off of two walks and an error. Medina drew a third walk to push catcher Cat Olnick across home plate and make the score 5-1.
Savarese's powerful infield single bounced off the pitcher's glove and allowed Toscano to score once more.
Mosch, who finished a perfect 2-for-2, stepped up to the plate and ended the game just as she had in the first inning.
The Pennsylvania native drove a single up the middle again to secure Giddens' run past home plate. Savarese and Medina, however, continued to run on the throw and safely reached home to run-rule the Pirates 9-1 in six innings.
Savarese finished 2-for-4, with two runs and three RBI. Dunbar went 2-for-4 with one run, while Toscano recorded two runs on 1-for-3 at bats.
The Bulls' sweep of Seton Hall mirrored Friday night's six-inning run rule nightcap against St. John's.
“It's important to come out of these two series with four wins,” Eriksen said. “Having these wins behind us puts us in a position to jump out ahead and allows us to get better as we continue to play tough teams into the season.”
USF will travel to Gainesville on Wednesday to meet Florida in a doubleheader scheduled for 4 p.m. The Bulls will continue BIG EAST play as they go on the road to meet Rutgers on Saturday, April 5, and Villanova on Sunday, April 6.
