|
|
 |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Hofstra |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
|
USF |
0 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
9 |
16 |
0 |
|
Pitching |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
|
W- Howell |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
L- Wade |
3 |
8 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
|
Hitting Leaders |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
2B |
|
USF - Olnick |
4 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| |
TAMPA ? Junior Cat Olnick was perfect at the plate with four hits helping the University of South Florida softball team crank out nine runs against Hofstra University to defeat the Pride, 9-2.
“I saw the ball well this weekend,” said Olnick. “As coach puts it, “it felt like a hot knife through butter.”
In the first inning the Bulls escaped danger as Hofstra had runners on first and third after Bulls hurler Christi Ecks gave up a walk and single with one out. The Hofstra batter hit a grounder to Bulls second baseman Britta Giddens who tagged the runner out at first but was unable to get the runner going to first allowing a Pride run to score. However after Bulls head coach Ken Eriksen went to discuss the play with the umpires believing Giddens was interfered while trying to make the play. The called was overturned thus no Pride runners crossed home and the threat was ended.
The Bulls would pound out five hits in the second inning to push four runs across home on their way to 16 hits in the game.
“I thought our kids came out focused today, knowing the type of team Hofstra is year in and year out,” said Eriksen. “The bats allow us to do a lot of things in the circle and I am excited about continuing to get better.”
With two outs in the inning, Olnick started the rally by singling up the middle. Junior first baseman, Ashley Bullion would follow with a single of her own. After the speedy Kelly McCarver reached first on an infield single, freshman Janine Richardson would rope a double over the centerfielder's head, allowing Bullion and Olnick to score. Sophomore Tara Toscano would also single up the middle to bring home McCarver and Richardson giving the Bulls an early 4-0 advantage.
Hofstra would answer right back scoring a run after Kris Root would walk then Michele DePasquale, leading the pride with a .438 average on the season, doubled to left center scoring Root from first.
Olnick would single to right center in the third inning to score Lauren Savarese to put the Bulls ahead, 5-2.
USF added another run in the fifth, but would break the game wide open in sixth plating three more runs.
Richardson would get her second hit of the game, an infield single. Richardson hit a slow roller to third then beating the throw from a diving Sara Michalowski. After stealing second, Richardson scored on an RBI single from Giddens. The inning would continue as junior JoJo Medina would get lace her first double of the year to right center, bringing home Giddens.
Kendall Arnold would come into the game, replacing Fountain at short, and single to center and bringing home pinch runner, Melissa Rosas. Olnick then roped her second double of the day, however Arnold was thrown out at home trying to score
Ecks started the game, but the win was credited to freshman Candace Howell. Howell (2-2) gave up one in four innings work, while giving up just one hit and striking out three.
“Candace came out with a lot of focus today,” added Eriksen.
The Bulls will continue to play host. This time the Bulls will hold the USF "The Game" Tournament. Eastern Michigan, Rhode Island, Albany, Jacksonville State and FAMU will come to Tampa for the three day event held at the USF Softball Stadium.
