|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
R |
H |
E |
|
USF |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
|
Syracuse |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
8 |
0 |
|
Pitching |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
|
W- Bowles (7-5) |
2.2 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
L- Caira (16-11) |
9.0 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
9 |
|
S- Ecks (3) |
4.2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
|
Hitting Leaders |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
3B |
|
USF - Savarese |
4 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| |
WATCH HIGHLIGHT
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With the score knotted at 1-1 in the top of the ninth inning, USF exploded for four runs to top Syracuse 5-4 in game one of the 2009 BIG EAST Softball Championship at Ulmer Stadium in Louisville, Ky.
The Bulls had pulled ahead 5-1 in the top of the ninth inning, but a throwing error allowed Orange freshman second baseman Stephanie Watts' to reach home on a bases loaded triple, scoring four runs. For the second straight year, the opening game of the championship reached extra innings.
“I'm speechless,” said USF head coach Ken Eriksen. “I am proud that everyone contributed. Its amazing how many times our team has come back when we have been down and come back. Cat Olnick and Alison Savarese did a great job of coming up big.”
No one in the USF lineup had more than one hit, while third baseman Alison Savarese made the most of her 1-for-3 showing at the plate with three RBI. With two outs in the top of the ninth inning and the Bulls holding a 2-1 lead, Savarese belted a triple to center field with the bases loaded, scoring three runs. Watts and sophomore right fielder Rachel Helman led Syracuse with two hits a piece.
Syracuse struck first in the game, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning after Helman scored on a throwing error by USF's Gina Kafalas, who had fielded a fly ball hit by Orange sophomore Hallie Gibbs. The 1-0 advantage lasted until the top of the seventh inning when USF senior Britta Giddens singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then scored the tying run after junior Cat Olnick singled to right field.
The Bulls four runs in the top of the ninth were the result of Savarese's three-run triple which built on the run scored earlier in the inning by Giddens after she walked to reach base. While the 5-1 lead with only a half inning of action left looked like a comfortable margin for the Bulls, Syracuse made things interesting with its bases loaded triple by Watts. Giddens made a throw from second to try to put out Watts as she rounded into third on her shot to center field, but lost control of the throw, receiving the error that allowed Syracuse to pull within one run, 5-4.
Freshman Brittany Bowles received the win for the Bulls, pitching 2.2 innings of relief. Bowles allowed three earned runs, but senior Cristi Ecks was able to get the final out in the bottom of the ninth with the 5-4 lead to earn the save. Bowles record improves to 7-5 on the season. Freshman Jenna Caira takes the loss for Syracuse, the rookie allowed seven hits and five earned runs as she finishes the season with a 16-11 mark.
USF will advance to the semifinals on May 8 at Noon against the winner of No. 1 seed DePaul and No. 8 seed Seton Hall. The semifinal game will be televised by the CBS College Sports Network. Check BIG EAST Softball Championship Central for updated information on the tournament.
