|
|
 |
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Villanova |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
|
USF |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
- |
4 |
8 |
2 |
|
Pitching |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
|
W- Bowles (5-2) |
2.2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
|
L- Delahaba |
2.0 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
|
S- Spence (1) |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hitting Leaders |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
HR |
|
USF - Giddens |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| |
CLEARWATER ? The University of South Florida (17-10) jumped out to early lead on Villanova and never looked back in securing a 4-2 win and the 2009 Under Armour Invitational Championship on Sunday afternoon at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater.
We are winning majority of the games but we still haven't put all the three parts together of hitting, pitching and fielding," said USF softball head coach Ken Eriksen. "The teaching is still constant in between innings and after games."
It is the second time in program history that USF has won the tournament. They also won it in 2004, under its previous name of the Speedline Invitational.
USF jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a pair of singles by centerfielder Janine Richardson and first baseman JoJo Medina.
Richardson's single to left field led to a throwing error by Villanova that allowed Britta Giddens to score easily. Medina followed with a single through the left side to plate Richardson and give the Bulls a lead, 2-0, they would never relinquish.
Villanova gift-wrapped the Bulls third and fourth scores of the game. In the second inning, the Wildcats starter Caitlyn Delahaba walked Britta Giddens with the bases loaded. It was Giddens 18th RBI of the season and third of the weekend. She remained in a dead heat with Medina for the team lead (18) in RBI.
A grounder off the bat of Giddens in the fourth inning caused a Villanova error and allowed the Bulls fourth run to trot home.
"I thought Britta had a great weekend," said Eriksen. "Also, Alison Savarese hit the ball hard and had some great at-bats."
The USF pitching staff put itself in a jam in the top of fourth inning. Between starter Candace Howell and reliever Brittany Bowles, the Bulls issued five walks to the Wildcats and surrendered two runs. Both of the runs were scored on bases loaded walks. Bowles would buckle down and make a strong fielding play on a grounder to her right to escape the inning with the Bulls lead intact, 3-2.
Villanova would threaten in the seventh inning, but senior Bree Spence came in and stopped the rally with three consecutive outs.
"When you have someone like Bree Spence who is stepping up in a crucial inning with the tying run at the plate, that is what we are talking about as far as the older players stepping up to the plate," said Eriksen.
Bowles earned the win to improve to 5-2 on the season. She worked 2.2 innings allowing four hits, three walks and zero earned runs. Spence picked up her first save of the season with one inning of hitless, scoreless work.
USF finished the weekend 4-1 and defeated the last remaining undefeated tourney team, Villanova, who enter the title game 4-0. Sixteen teams participated in the tournament.
USF will not have a chance to rest after playing 12 games in 10 days. The Bulls host their BIG EAST doubleheader opener against UConn on Tuesday, March 8. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. Eastern.
USF will be back in Clearwater hosting the USF Under Armour Showcase next weekend, March 13-15. GoUSFBulls.com will have extensive coverage again through Tournament Central, Live Chat and Live Streaming Video and Audio.
