|
|
 |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Arizona |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
10 |
1 |
|
USF |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
2 |
|
Pitching |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
|
W- Akamine |
7 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
|
L- Howell |
6.1 |
7 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
5 |
|
Hitting Leaders |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
2B |
|
USF - Olnick |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| |
TAMPA ? For the second consecutive night, the USF softball team (4-4) pushed the No. 12 Arizona Wildcats (6-2) to the limit before falling, 6-4 in its first USF Wilson Tournament action of the day.
Freshman hurler Candace Howell started the game in the circle for USF, striking out the first two batters she faced and holding Arizona to only one hit through three innings pitched. She would go 6.1 innings, allowing just two earned runs and striking out five in the loss. The five strikeouts is her new career high, previously striking out four against Florida Gulf Coast earlier in the year.
Pitcher Sarah Akamine started for the Wildcats and would go the entire seven innings, giving up eight hits and two earned runs while striking out three.
Both teams bats took some time to get going, but Arizona came alive at the plate in the top of the fourth. Kristen Arriola entered to pinch hit for Karissa Buchanan and drove in Stacie Chambers with a single up to the middle. Victoria Kemp advanced to third on the play and crossed the plate on a USF throwing error to give Arizona a 2-0 lead.
The Bulls offense followed course in the fourth and wasted no time evening the score. Britta Giddens led off the inning, reaching on a throwing error that allowed her to take second on the play. Alison Savarese singled to shortstop with one out to put two on for USF and a Laura Fountain ground out advanced both runners to scoring position. Olnick stepped to the plate with two outs, clocking a double to center to score Giddens and Saverese, tying the game 2-2.
The Wildcats struck again in the top of the fifth, as Lauren Schutzler singled to shortstop to start the inning. A one-out single by Banister put two on for Arizona before Chambers drove in the go-ahead run with a base hit up the middle, making it 3-2 Arizona. The Bulls defense worked out of a tight spot in order to keep the game close. Howell fanned Koria for out number two before walking Roth to load the bases for Arizona. USF thwarted the Wildcats chances of increasing their lead as Kemp hit into a fielder's choice allowing Fountain to throw out Roth at second and end the inning.
Arizona threatened again in the top of the seventh as Chambers drew a walk with one out and Jill Malina entered to pinch run. A throwing error allowed Koria to reach safely while advancing Malina to second. USF hurler Kristen Gordon relieved Howell in the circle with two runners on and struck out the first batter she faced. Kemp singled to load the bases for the Wildcats before a Buchanan single scored Malina, increasing the Arizona lead, 4-2. Lastrapes continued the run production, clocking the third-consecutive base hit of the inning of the Wildcats, scoring Koria. All three base runners advanced on the throw allowing Kemp to score and give Arizona a 6-2 edge.
For the second night in a row the Bulls refused to go down without a fight, cutting into the Wildcats lead in the bottom of the seventh. Olnick drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a single up the middle by Bullion. Alexis Nowell entered to pinch run for Bullion and Gina Kafalas singled to the left side, loading the bases for USF. Richardson singled to score Olnick and cut the Arizona deficit, 6-3.
Toscano continued to put runs on the board, scoring Nowell with a single up the middle making it 6-4. Arizona quickly shut down the Bulls comeback attempt, throwing Kafalas out on the play and catching a Giddens fly to center to end the inning.
Bullion was 2-for-3 on the night, while Olnick led the team with a two RBIs.
Sarah Akamine got the win (4-0) for the Wildcats pitching all seven innings.
The Bulls are back in action in the USF Wilson Tournament immediately following, looking for the first victory of the tournament in a match up with Marshall.
