|
|
 |
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
R
|
H
|
E
|
|
USF
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
|
East Carolina
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
x
|
5
|
12
|
0
|
|
Pitching
|
IP
|
H
|
R
|
ER
|
BB
|
SO
|
|
W- Paisley (1-0)
|
7.0
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
6
|
|
L- Howell (0-1)
|
2.0
|
6
|
4
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
|
Hitting Leaders
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
RBI
|
2B
|
3B
|
|
ECU - Lopez
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
|
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
|
|
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The University of South Florida softball team found their bats as cold as the Florida weather Saturday night, as the Bulls fell to East Carolina, 5-1, at the Wilson-DeMarini Tournament at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
"Three hours for the first game and the cold weather, I thought we did not come out mentally prepared for the second game," said head coach Ken Eriksen.
The Bulls managed just two hits on the night against the Pirates, after collecting just four in the team's season opener earlier in the day as temperatures in Clearwater dropped down to the low 40s by the end of the day.
USF fell to 1-1 on the season after a 10 inning 4-3 win over Illinois State earlier in the day. The Pirates improved to 1-1 as well after a season-opening loss to No. 3 Florida, 4-3.
Sophomore Candace Howell took the loss for USF, allowing four earned runs in two plus innings on six hits with two strikeouts. Freshman Lindsey Richardson pitched the last four innings, giving up one earned run on six hits with seven strikeouts.
East Carolina's Toni Paisley went the complete game, giving up just one earned run on those two hits while striking out six.
East Carolina got the scoring started with single runs in the first two innings. Vanessa Moreno launched a one-out double to left center to score Charina Sumner with the game's first run in the bottom of the first off starter Howell.
After a single and a stolen base by ECU's Marina Gusman-Brown put runners on second and third, Howell struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
The Pirates pushed across a run in the second when Sumner doubled home Cicely Lopez. But just like the first inning, Howell got out of the jam with runners in scoring position, forcing two ground outs to third to keep the score at 2-0.
The Pirates would do more damage the very next inning, as East Carolina immediately put runners on the corners, as head coach Ken Eriksen brought in freshman Lindsey Richardson. The rookie struck out her first collegiate batter she faced but gave up an RBI single to Kai Clark followed by a two-run double off the bat of Lopez.
"I am excited about Lindsey Richardson's performance tonight. She didn't walk anyone and struck out seven," said Eriksen."
Richardson would get Kaui Tom to ground out and froze Sumner on a called third strike, holding ECU scoreless for the last three innings of the game.
The Bulls got on the board in the top of the fourth, as sophomore Janine Richardson led things off with a triple to right center and then scored two outs later when Alison Savarese collected USF's second and last hit of the game with a single to right center.
"I'm a little more relaxed this year," said Richardson. "I felt more balanced at the plate and I am seeing the ball really good. Also I feel my teammates are really backing me up."
USF will be back in action Sunday to close out the tournament, facing No. 3 Florida at 1:30 p.m. followed by Canisius right after. Action gets underway at 9 a.m. with a pair of games on Fields 8 and 9 at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
