|
|
 |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Marshall |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
|
USF |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
|
Pitching |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
|
W- Ecks
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
L- Jackson
|
0.2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Hitting Leaders |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
2B |
|
USF - Savarese |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| |
TAMPA - The USF softball team earned its first victory of the USF Wilson Tournament in walk-off fashion - defeating Marshall, 5-4, in the bottom of the seventh.
“I'm really liking what our team is doing,” said USF head coach Ken Eriksen. “They are playing from inning one to inning seven. That's all I can ask of them right now.”
For the third game in a row, the Bulls refused to go down without a fight ? reclaiming the lead in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh. Toscano drew a leadoff walk prompting Marshall to replace Autumn Mitchell in the circle with Caitlyn Jackson. Cat Olnick drew a one-out walk, representing the USF go-ahead run and setting the table for the dramatic finish.
Freshman Janine Richardson doubled to left field, scoring Toscano to tie the game, 4-4, but the Bulls rally didn't end there. Lauren Rodriguez entered to pinch hit for Gina Kafalas and drew an intentional walk that created a defensive advantage for the Thundering Herd. That advantage didn't matter as senior Britta Giddens put the game away with a ground out to second that was to deep for a force out at home plate allowed Cat Olnick to trot home with the game-winning run.
“I felt really good about it,” said Richardson on her RBI hit to tie the game. “It was my first hit of the game, I was really excited about that. It made me smile at the end.”
USF hurler Cristi Ecks (2-0) earned the win, relieving Bowles in the top of the seventh, allowing one hit and one earned run in one inning of work.
Mitchell began the game in the circle for the Thundering Herd and drew the no-decision, allowing four earned runs through six innings of work while striking out six.
Alison Savarese led the Bulls offensively with two hits ? including one double ? while rookie Laura Fountain drove in a team-best two runs.
“Just finally finding myself, getting comfortable in my own shoes,” said Fountain. “I'm getting some confidence back that I have been lacking.”
The Thundering Herd hitters took advantage of a Bulls team that had just come off seven tough innings against one of the nation's best in Arizona. They jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over the tournament hosts.
Marshall leadoff batter Alianna Telles drew a walk from Bowles, and advanced to second on a fielder's choice off the bat of J.J. Bitner. A single through the left side by Caitlyn Jackson loaded the bases for the Thundering Herd and a fielder's choice by Rebecca Gamby scored Telles, giving Marshall a 1-0 edge. The Herd increased their lead to 2-0 on a Kelly Nielson ground out that scored Bitner.
The Bulls offense stepped up to the challenge, gaining the lead in the bottom of the first. Mitchell dealt right fielder Gina Kafalas a one-out walk and she stole second before designated player JoJo Medina walked, putting the tying run on board for the Bulls. Savarese doubled to left center ? her third multi-base hit of the season ? scoring Kafalas and pulling USF within one, 2-1.
Rookie Laura Fountain ? who hit her first career triple in day one of USF Wilson Tournament action ? continued to produce at the plate for the Bulls, singling to right center to score both Savarese and Medina and give USF a 3-2 advantage.
After an action-packed opening, the two teams played closely until the seventh inning, with neither pitcher facing more than five batters in a half inning after the first. Bowles surrendered only two hits in the second through sixth innings, while Mitchell held the Bulls hitless in the same span until Savarese collected her second hit of the game in the bottom of the sixth.
Marshall waited until late in the game to stage a comeback, scoring two in the top of the seventh to regain the lead.
Jessica Hughes entered to pinch hit for right fielder Melissa Loesing to lead off the inning. Hughes singled down the left field line, prompting Cristi Ecks to take over the USF pitching duties for Bowles. A pair of Thundering Herd ground outs advanced Hughes to third and Jackson was hit by a pitch to put the go-ahead run on for Marshall. A double to left center by Gamby scored both runners, putting the Thundering Herd on top, 4-3, before the Bulls eventual rally.
With the split decision today, the Bulls are 5-4 on the season.
“Well if you think about all of our games this weekend, we've played four games this weekend, and we haven't been out of one of them,” said Eriksen. “Simply because of the fact we got the tying-run on deck in at least every ball game when we were behind and tonight was no different. We were just able to finally break through and finish the job.”
The Bulls are back in action tomorrow, wrapping up USF Wilson Tournament action with a matchup against the Hofstra Pride at 1:30 p.m.
