Box Scores: Game One | Game Two
PROVIDENCE, RI - The University of South Florida softball team (42-17, 16-4) is just two wins away from clinching the BIG EAST regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament after taking two games from Providence, 5-4 and 5-1, Saturday in Providence, Rhode Island.
The Bulls remain a game ahead of second-place DePaul who took two from Syracuse on Friday and sits at 15-5. USF wraps up regular season play at Connecticut on Sunday with a pair of games beginning at Noon, while DePaul travels to Pittsburgh for two on Sunday. Notre Dame and Connecticut sit two games back at 13-7 in conference play. Notre Dame has two games at Syracuse on Sunday.
Sophomore Alison Savarese put the Bulls up early with a two-out, three-RBI homerun in the first inning of game one.
In the top of the second, Tara Toscano reached home on Britta Giddens' single to put the Bulls up, 4-0. Toscano reached first after drawing a walk, and advanced to second on Kit Dunbar's infield single.
Savarese led off the third with a single to second and scored on freshman Kelly McCarver's left line single.
Starter Courtney Mosch held off the Friars for two innings before Providence took advantage of a bases on balls and an error to cut the deficit to 5-2.
Providence added two more runs in the fourth to get within one, but relief pitcher Capri Catalano struck out the last batter to finish the inning.
The right-handed pitcher shut out the Friars in the bottom of the fourth striking out all three batters in order.
In the sixth, Providence's Katelyn Revens hit a double to deep center, a joined defensive effort from Aya Nakajima, Giddens, and Savarese put her out on third. Catalano struck out the third batter to end the inning.
Savarese went 2-for-4, with three RBI and two runs. Giddens finished 2-for-3, one run and one RBI.
Catalano was awarded the win to improve to 15-1. In three and one-third innings pitched, the freshman pitcher struck out seven, allowed just one hit and gave up two walks.
Game Two
Just like she had in game one, Savarese opened up the scoring in the first inning with a left field double that sent Giddens home.
The Friars tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first.
Dunbar put the Bulls ahead on JoJo Medina's double to left centerfield in the third. USF added two more runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead over Providence.
Mosch drove a home run out of left center field in the top of the fifth to expand the lead, 5-1.
In the circle, Mosch kept the Friars off the board for three and one-third innings before Catalano came out of the bullpen.
Mosch (17-7) picked up the win in game two, while Catalano recorded her sixth save of the season.
Mosch finished 2-for-4, with one run and one RBI in game two. Medina drew two walks and went 1-for-2, with two RBI.
The Bulls will conclude the regular season schedule on Sunday at Connecticut. The double header is scheduled for 12 p.m.
