|
|
 |
| |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Arizona |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
7 |
9 |
2 |
|
USF |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
|
Pitching |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
|
W- Sisk (1-2) |
8 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
|
L- Bowles (0-1) |
4 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
|
Hitting Leaders |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
3B |
HR |
|
USF - Fountain |
4 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
5 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
| |
TAMPA - The USF softball team had No. 12 Arizona on the ropes in its second game of the USF Wilson Tournament on Friday night, until an extra-innings grand slam helped the Wildcats escape with a 7-2 win.
“Today we found some challenges on our team, especially our pitching staff in game two,” said USF head coach Ken Eriksen. “You can only contain a team like that for so long and I feel we will make our adjustments tomorrow.”
Game two began in similar fashion for the Bulls as the visitors jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first, courtesy of back-to-back doubles. A double down the leftfield line by Jenae Leles put two runners in scoring position for the Wildcats with one out. Sam Banister drove in both runners, doubling to right center to give Arizona a 2-0 advantage.
USF cut the deficit in the bottom of the first as centerfielder Janine Richardson drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A passed ball sent the speedster to third and Tara Toscano singled to the third base side to put two on for the Bulls. An illegal pitch by Arizona hurler Lindsey Sisk allowed Richardson to score, cutting the Wildcats lead, 2-1. Toscano advanced to second on the illegal pitch and took third on a passed ball, but USF was unable to bring the tying run home as Sisk caught Savarese looking for out number three.
The Bulls were sound defensively in the bottom of the second, as Victoria Kemp grounded out to Savarese at third and Ecks fielded her position to throw Lauren Schutzler out at first. First baseman Ashley Bullion ended the inning with an amazing diving catch on a foul ball in front of the Arizona dugout to hold the visitors to a one-run lead after two.
Freshman hurler Brittany Bowles took over the pitching duties for the Bulls in the top of the fifth and flashed her dominant potential. Leles ? Arizona's power hitter ? doubled to right center and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly by Banister, but was left stranded as Bowles fanned the next two Wildcat hitters to end the inning.
“I was really excited and nervous,” said Bowles. “I was proud of our team for holding them down for awhile. People tend to underestimate teams, who are not nationally rank in the top 10 like us and to show what we did today, I am excited for this year.”
USF hitters worked to tire out Sisk in the bottom of the fifth as Bullion saw six pitches before drawing a walk with one out. Left fielder Kelly McCarver struck out swinging on the eighth pitch of her at bat. Richardson walked on the ninth pitch of her trip to the plate, putting two on for the Bulls. An Arizona throwing error saw Toscano aboard safely. Bullion rounded third on the play, but was called out after a collision with the catcher at home plate to end the inning.
Arizona threatened to increase its lead in the top of the sixth before Bullion made her second diving catch of the game, this time on a line drive bunt by Arriola. Bullion turned the liner into a double play, connecting with Giddens who was covering first to retire an advancing Lastrapes.
USF carried its momentum into the bottom of the sixth as Savarese hit a two-out single to left field and Lauren Rodriguez entered to pinch run. Freshman Laura Fountain drove Rodriguez in, clocking her first career triple off the right-field wall, scoring Rodriguez to tie the score, 2-2.
“It feels very exhilarating,” said Fountain on her first career triple. “It was cool to hear my teammates congratulate me.”
Defense sustained the Bulls through the top of the seventh as catcher Cat Olnick made a diving catch on a bunt attempt gone foul for the first out of the inning. Arizona's Stacie Chambers drew a walk but was thrown out on a fielder's choice off the bat of Lini Koria. Fountain sealed the inning, snagging a foul ball to the left of the third base line on the run to retire the side.
Despite its defense prowess, USF struggled to muster its offense in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game to extra innings.
The international tie breaker rule placed a runner at second base to begin the eighth inning. A centerfield single by Schutzler scored Roth, giving Arizona a 3-2 edge. A double to left field by Lastrapes advanced Schutzler to third, putting two in scoring position for the Wildcats. Bowles fanned Arriola for out number two and walked Leles, loading the bases for Arizona. Banister wasted no time putting the game away for the Wildcats, clocking a grand slam over the left field wall to make it a 7-2 advantage.
Toscano started on second for the Bulls in the bottom of the eighth - as per the international tie breaker rule ? and advanced to third on a one-out single by designated player JoJo Medina. A throwing error by Lastrapes in left field allowed Medina to take second and Alexis Nowell entered to pinch run. Savarese made the most of her extra-innings trip to the plate, drawing a walk on the 10th pitch of her at bat to load the bases for the Bulls, but Arizona thwarted the USF comeback, closing out the inning with back-to-back fly outs.
The Bulls are back in action in USF Wilson Tournament Saturday in a rematch with the Wildcats at 4 p.m. followed by a game against Marshall scheduled for 6 p.m.
The softball team will kick off the “Go Pink” event on Saturday, Feb. 14, as they will be wearing pink jerseys, against perennial national power Arizona in its “Bulls for the Cure” game at 4 p.m. All fans that purchase a ticket to the game between the Bulls and the Wildcats will also receive a free ticket to the women's basketball game later that night at 7 p.m. in the Sun Dome against Seton Hall.
