Box Scores: Game 1
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TAMPA - Cat Olnick's first career grand slam in the bottom of the fourth elevated the Bulls to complete the sweep of Notre Dame, 5-2 and 8-4, on Sunday afternoon.
The Bulls finished the weekend 3-1 and remain in the top of the BIG EAST standings at 14-2.
“We had all three facets working for us this weekend, pitching, hitting and defense,” head coach Ken Eriksen said. “Pitching and defense have won games for us throughout the year. It was vital for our hitters to come out and attack this weekend to give our pitchers relief where they don't have to shut out opponents.”
Olnick broke game two in the first inning when, with two outs and two on base, she drove a double to left field to bring second baseman Britta Giddens home.
The Fighting Irish led off the top of the third with a pair of hits to take a 2-1 lead.
USF regained the lead in the next at bat on an Alison Savarese two-RBI single down the middle.
After a batter's interference was called on Erin Marrone, freshman Capri Catalano struck out the next two batters to send the Bulls back to bat.
With the bases loaded and two outs on the board, Olnick propelled the four-RBI grand slam over the left field fence to give USF a five-run lead. Olnick finished the game at 3-for-4, five RBI and one run.
Notre Dame loaded the bases to begin the sixth and scored two runs before Courtney Mosch came out of the bullpen to retire the last two batters and end the Irish rally.
The Bulls added on more run in the bottom of the sixth to set the final score at 8-4.
Catalano (13-0) was awarded her thirteenth win, sixth against conference opponents, while Mosch registered the save for the Bulls.
Catalano struck out seven Irish batters, allowed four runs and gave up two walks in five and one-third innings of work.
Game One
USF scored four runs in the sixth frame to take game one from Notre Dame, 5-2.
The Bulls got on the board first when freshman left fielder Kelly McCarver crossed home plate on a Kit Dunbar single in the top of the third.
In the fifth inning, Christine Lux's two-RBI home run gave the Irish the 3-1 lead before Mosch retired the next three batters in order.
USF shook the Notre Dame defense in the sixth frame as the Bulls scored four runs off of one hit.
Mosch drove Brittney Bargar's first pitch down the left line to get to first and advance Medina, who had reached on bases on balls, to second. Medina moved to third on a passed ball, and Mosch stole second and avoided the putout to rowdy up the USF dugout.
Savarese reached first on an error that brought Medina home and tied the game at 2-2. Pinch hitter Laura Wolf advanced all the runners on a fielder's choice sent pinch runner Lauren Rodriguez home.
Savarese moved to third on the throw and added a run on Aya Nakajima's bunt. McCarver scored one more run before the inning was over.
“We have had people that have been consistent all year, it was definitely nice to have players like Savarese, Olnick and Nakajima step up in clutch situations for us," Eriksen added.
Kristen Gordon, who relieved Mosch in the sixth, took the win in the circle. Catalano joined Gordon and Cristi Ecks in the record books with her fifth save of the season. She is the third freshman to record at least five saves in the last three years, Ecks did it in 2006 and Gordon in 2007.
“We began the season with five pitchers and right now we're down to three. That doesn't change our philosophy. We don't have a number one pitcher, or a number two. We utilize them all as relievers and at one point or the other, they've all come in and close a game for us.”
After the weekend, the Bulls, 39-14, remain in the driver's seat in BIG EAST standings at 14-2. Connecticut is in second place at 11-3, 24-16 overall.
“The only thing I can say about our record right now is that I feel confident that we're going to the BIG EAST tournament. Nothing is definite until it's final, we're still painting the picture and we can confident about anything.”
The Bulls will host Stetson in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 23, at 4 p.m. before taking on Louisville on Saturday, April 26, at noon to close out the 2008 home schedule.
