|
|
 |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
JSU |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
x |
x |
1 |
5 |
2 |
|
USF |
0 |
6 |
4 |
0 |
x |
x |
x |
10 |
8 |
0 |
|
Pitching |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
|
W- Howell, C. (3-2) |
4.2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
|
L- Eliasson, A. (1-3) |
1.1 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Hitting Leaders |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
2B |
|
USF - Toscano |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| |
TAMPA- After being held to one hit on day two of 2009 USF The Game Tournament, the University of South Florida softball exploded at the plate in a 10-1, run rule victory over Jacksonville State.
“I thought the day started by Candace Howell getting us off on the right foot,” said USF softball head coach Ken Eriksen. “When you get a pitcher to stop a good hitting team early like Jacksonville State, it gives our hitters confidence and relax a little at the plate.”
After being held scoreless in the first, the Bulls broke the game open in the second plating six runs in the frame. With one out, junior Ashley Bullion would jump start the Bulls by doubling off the wall in left center, Allison Savarese would draw a walk followed by a bunt single by Lauren Rodriguez to load the bases.
Bullion would score on a wild pitch to give the Bulls an early 1-0 advantage but the Bulls were not done. USF reloaded the bases when Gina Kafalas was hit by a pitch to bring up the top of the order. The Bulls would then get back-to-back RBI singles from freshman Janine Richardson and Tara Toscano to push the lead to 3-0 to chase the JSU hurler from the game after recording just four outs.
With the still bases load, Savarese would score on a wild pitch. With junior Britta Giddens stepping to the plate, Richardson would steal home after taking advantage of a JSU mistake. After the wild pitch that scored Savarese, the JSU catcher went to go to talk her hurler without calling time. The heady Richardson realized the situation and effortlessly swiped home for the Bulls.
With the lead now 5-0, Giddens would lace a double down the line scoring Toscano capping off the Bulls scoring in the inning. Toscano, making her first start of the season at shortstop after playing at short almost exclusively in 2008, went 2-for-2, driving in two runs and making a number of nice plays in the field.
Not to be outshined by the Bulls offense outburst, freshman pitcher Candace Howell, making her third start of the season, shut down the Gamecocks to pick up her third win of the season. After escaping bases loaded with one out in the top of the first unscathed, the Cocoa, Fla. native would settle down to pitch a gem. Howell pitched the first four innings not giving up a run. She would be relieved by junior Kristen Gordon, but after Gordon gave up a run Howell would come back in to finish what she started by getting the JSU's Kayla Collins to bounce into a game inning double play.
“I felt really good,” said Howell. “I had great defense and I trusted every player out there. Our first baseman, Ashley (Bullion) would come over and pep me up between pitches which helped a lot. With what our offense did in scoring a lot of runs, it allows me relax and expand my zone.”
Offensively, the Bulls would finish up their scoring for the game in the third and would again get the inning going with one down. Savarese would start it with a single up the middle and would advance after Rodriguez was hit by a pitch. The Bulls would then load the bases when Kafalas drew a walk. Richardson then hit into a fielder's choice to third but the shortstops throw would sail high allowing Savarese to score.
Toscano would keep the momentum rolling by singling to left to score Rodriguez. The Bulls would add to more unearned runs off of a JSU throwing error giving the Bulls a 10 run cushion.
The Bulls would end the game with a 10-1 victory. The Bulls improve to 9-5 on the season and will play immediately after to finish up the 2009 USF The Game Tournament.
