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 |
|
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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R
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H
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E
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No. 3/5 Florida
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3
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2
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2
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1
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0
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3
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1
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12
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12
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0
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USF
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0
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0
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0
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0
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5
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3
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0
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8
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11
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3
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Pitching
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IP
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H
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R
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ER
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BB
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SO
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W- Brombacher (1-1)
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7.0
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11
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8
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8
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5
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10
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L- Gordon (0-1)
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0.1
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1
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3
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3
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2
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0
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Hitting Leaders
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AB
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R
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H
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RBI
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HR
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2B
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UF - Enea
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4
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2
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2
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4
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1
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1
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4
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1
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2
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4
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1
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0
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CLEARWATER, Fla. - It took nearly three hours and the hits and runs came left and right, but the University of South Florida softball team eventually fell to No. 3 Florida, 12-8, Sunday in the Wilson-DeMarini Tournament at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
Senior third baseman Alison Savarese went 2-for-4 with four RBI to lead the Bulls, while senior first baseman JoJo Medina batted 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI.
Enea Francesca knocked in four runs for the Gators on two hits with a pair of runs scored, while Kelsey Bruder, Aja Paculba and Corrie Brooks each added two RBI.
The Gators improved to 2-1 on the young season, while USF dropped its second game in a row to fall to 1-2. In the 39th all-time meeting between the two teams, USF tied its record for the most runs scored in the series. USF defeated Florida, 8-1, back in 2004.
Senior Kristen Gordon took the loss for the Bulls, getting just one out in the first inning while giving up three quick runs. Stephanie Brombacher pitched all seven innings for Florida, giving up eight earned runs on 11 hits with 10 strikeouts.
USF found itself down, 8-0, entering the bottom of the fifth and facing the eight-run rule, but the Bulls would get on the board to keep the game going.
Junior Kelly McCarver reached on a fielder's choice and sophomore Janine Richardson singled to left before senior Tara Toscano walked to load the bases. Medina then walked to score the first run, and Savarese followed that up by parking her first career grand slam over the left-center fence to all of a sudden get the Bulls to within three at 8-5.
"Our team's been working on staying short to the ball," said Savarese. "That's what I did. I wasn't thinking about a home run."
The Bulls would later add three in the bottom of the sixth to pull the score to 11-8 Florida after the Gators added three in the top half of the inning. McCarver and Toscano singled before Medina again led the way, hitting a two-run double just past the reach of the center fielder to bring home both runners.
Savarese and freshman Stormi Gryzbek hit back-to-back singles to score Medina before Brombacher senior catcher Cat Olnick to line out to second to end the inning.
The Gators jumped out early to open play as Gordon put the first two runners on with back-to-back walks. Enea then launched the first pitch she saw from Gordon over the left field fence to immediately put Florida up, 3-0.
Sophomore Brittany Bowles came in but loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk with one out, but Bowles struck out Michelle Moultrie and Brittany Walker grounded out to third to end it.
The Gators then added a pair of runs in both the second and third innings to get the lead to 7-0.
Enea added her fourth RBI of the day after doubling home Brittany Schutte in the second inning. Enea then scored on a groundout by Bruder.
Leadoff hitter Paculba gave the Gators the 7-0 lead in the third when she singled down the right field line to score Moultrie and Megan Bush.
Corrie Brooks hit a double over the head of right fielder Lauren Rodriguez in the fourth inning to score Tiffany DeFelice as the Gators went up, 8-0, forcing USF to have to dig down deep.
The Bulls nearly did, putting runners on second and third in the bottom of the fourth inning, but right fielder Melissa Rojas struck out looking to end the threat before the Bulls' five-run rally the next inning.
The Gators added three more in the top of the sixth, including a close call at home when sophomore second baseman Alexis Nowell threw home trying to nail the runner but the runner was called safe despite a good block by Olnick. Bush hit a sac fly, and Moultrie singled home the third run of the inning.
Florida finished the scoring with an RBI single by Bruder in the seventh.
