|
|
 |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
USF |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
0 |
|
#21/14 UMASS |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Pitching |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
|
W- Howell (5-3) |
6.1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
|
L- Balschmiter |
7.0 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
|
S- Ecks |
0.2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Hitting Leaders |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
HR |
|
USF - Bullion |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| |
CLEARWATER - The University of South Florida softball team (21-10 overall, 2-0 conference) defeated the No. 21/14 University of Massachusetts Minutewomen, 1-0, in the night cap game in the USF Under Armour Showcase.
Senior Cristi Ecks came into the game with one out and one on to earn the save and become USF's all-time leader for career saves with 16.
“I feel really good about it,” said Ecks. “Obviously I have a lot of support behind me with the friendships and the teammates that I have. I feel really good about how our team is going right now.”
Ecks walked the first batter she faced but struck out two in a row to end the game. Freshman Candace Howell started the game for the Bulls and tossed 6.1 innings shutting UMASS out only allowing one hit and striking out seven.
“One of the things after coming off last year's episodes is the coming back with confidence,” said USF softball head coach Ken Eriksen about Ecks. “After the last two outings, I thought she (Cristi) dominated. She brings a lot of stability to our team. Her and senior Bree Spence have been throwing well and their leadership seems to be rubbing off on our younger pitchers.”
The Bulls put their only run on the board in the second inning, after freshman Janine Richardson led off the inning with a single to right field. Junior JoJo Medina would put down the sacrifice bunt to move Richardson in scoring position. After an illegal pitch called on UMASS hurler, Brandice Balschmiter, junior Ashley Bullion singled home Richardson to put them up, 1-0.
The UMASS minutewomen would threaten the Bulls lead with runners on second and third with one out in the fifth inning. Howell would struck out the next batter before Sarah Reeves from UMASS hit a ball that look liked it would drop and allow both runs to score, but the speedy Richardson made a diving catch in centerfield to end the inning and maintain the one run lead. Richardson and Bullion would lead the Bulls with two hits apiece in the game.
USF tailed nine hits on the UMASS ace.
“It's huge to get two wins the first day of any tournament,” said Eriksen. “When a team gets nine hits off a pitcher like Balschmiter who is possibly one of the top five pitchers in the country, its says a lot about where we are going.”
The Bulls will be back in action Saturday, continuing play in the Under Armour Showcase with a double header starting at 4 p.m. against Central Michigan followed immediately by George Washington.
