|
|
 |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Illinois |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
|
USF |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
11
|
4 |
|
Pitching |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
|
W- M. Perry
|
3.0 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
|
L- Gordon
|
2.2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
|
Hitting Leaders |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
HR |
|
USF - Giddens |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| |
TAMPA ? The Bulls softball team opened the USF Wilson Tournament against Illinois on Friday afternoon. Despite holding a 11-6 advantage in hits, the Bulls were hampered by fielding errors and suffered a 6-4 setback to the Fighting Illini.
Illinois jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first, looking to rebound from a 4-1 loss to Hofstra in the first game of the USF Wilson Tournament. A single by Illinois' Jamie Adishian and a pair of fielding errors by the Bulls gave the Fighting Illini an early 1-0 advantage.
Illinois continued to build its lead in the second, as a USF throwing error allowed Audrey Gallien on board with one out. Meredith Hackett doubled down the left field line, advancing Gallien to third and putting two runners in scoring position for the Fighting Illini. Pitcher Bree Spence handed Danielle Zymkowski an intentional walk to load the bases with two outs and a single by Adishian drove in Gallien, making it 2-0 Illinois.
USF hurler Kristen Gordon relieved Spence in the top of the third after Illinois Hollie Pinchback collected the second Fighting Illini double in as many innings. Gordon ? who entered with one out - silenced the Illinois offense, causing Lana Armstrong to foul out to Ashley Bullion at first base while sending Kelley Wedel back to the bench swinging for out number three.
The USF offense came alive in the bottom of the third, as junior Lauren Rodriguez led off the inning with a single and stole second with one out to put the Bulls in scoring position. Toscano singled up the middle, advancing Rodriguez to third and a Giddens drove in both runners with a double to right center, tying the score, 2-2.
Both teams tightened up defensively in the fourth inning, as Gordon and the Bulls held Illinois hitless at the plate. USF's Kendall Arnold collected her first single of the game in the bottom of the fourth with one out, but the Fighting Illini collected two quick outs to end the inning.
Illinois regained the lead in the top of the fifth, as Adishian drew a leadoff walk and advanced to scoring position on a ground out. A passed ball advanced Adishian to third and a ground out to second gave her the room to score, putting the Fighting Illini on top, 3-2.
The Bulls wasted no time staging a comeback to even the score in the bottom of the fifth. Richardson singled through the left side, prompting Illinois to make a pitching change as rookie Monica Perry entered to relieve Ashley Wright in the circle. Richardson advanced to second on a passed ball and Toscano laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing Richardson to third. A wild pitch allowed Richardson to score, tying the game for a second time, 3-3.
Sophomore Kelly McCarver entered to pinch hit for Giddens as the Bulls looked to continue their run production with one out in the inning. McCarver reached on an Illinois throwing error and advanced to third on a single by Medina. Becky Frye entered to pinch run for Medina, and stole second to put two in scoring position for USF. Perry hit Olnick, loading the bases for the Bulls with two outs before striking out Arnold to end the inning.
The Fighting Illini regained the lead in the sixth inning of the back-and-forth game. Hope Howell would pinch hit and clock the third Illinois double of the game to score Hackett and Conrad giving the Fighting Illini a 5-3 lead.
USF collected two hits in the bottom of the sixth, but was unable to chip away at the Illinois lead. Bullion led off for the Bulls with a single up the middle and a base hit by Toscano put two runners on board. A passed ball advanced both runners to scoring position with two outs, but Perry caught McCarver swinging to end the inning.
The Fighting Illini added an insurance run when Zymkowitz singled down the left field line to score Behrens, increasing the Illinois lead, 6-3.
The tournament hosts began to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh as JoJo Medina drew a leadoff walk and Alexis Nowell entered to pinch run. Olnick doubled with one out, scoring Nowell and cutting the deficit, 6-4, but the Bulls fell short of a comeback as Olnick was thrown out at third on the play and Laura Fountain struck out swinging.
USF is back in action at the USF Softball Stadium immediately against the No. 12 Arizona Wildcats with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 p.m.
