TAMPA – The University of South Florida softball team continued its dominating ways with its third win in a row and a 7-1 victory over North Dakota State.
"(Kristen) Gordon and (Lindsey) Richardson did a great job in allowing us time to put some offensive numbers on the board," said Eriksen. "Good pitching and timely hitting was the key to that game."
The Bison were successful in slowing down blazing-hot senior
Alison Savarese, but she wasn't quiet.
Savarese had a sac fly RBI in the first inning to put the Bulls on the scoreboard. It was the 10th of her career, tying her for second on USF's all-time career list, just shy of Courtney Lewellens' 11 which has held since 2003.
Savarese came into the game with a ridiculous streak of hitting a home run in each of the last four games.
Senior Kristen Gordon earned the start tossing 5.1 innings, striking out three only allowing two hits. Freshman Lindsay Richardson pitched 2.2 innings in relief, earning the win. The righty struck out five of the eight batters she faced, giving up one hit and still not allowing a walk in her rookie season.
"Lindsey has been very consisitent lately," said Eriksen. "I like her approach."
Sophomore outfielder Janine Richardson was perfect at the plate going 4-for-4 with three RBI.
"Janine is a very good hitter to begin with so for her to put four hits together in game one is no surprise," said Eriksen. "For her to do it with such a slow start in games 1-6 shows a lot of patience."
In the fifth inning, the Bison even the game at one. North Dakota State earned back-to-back walks with one out to put a runner in scoring position and the Bison took advantage with a two out single to left field.
The Bulls answered back as they batted around in the sixth scoring six runs on five hits.
The rally was set up by junior Cat Olnick, who earned a one out walk. A Bison error allowed the pinch runner Becky Frye to touch home. A single by Alexis Nowell loaded the bases for pinch hitter Kendall Arnold who delivered a RBI single to centerfield to take a two-run lead.
Richardson, the Bulls leadoff hitter, roped a double to the right center gap to score all Bull runners to put the game out of reach. Medina single over the head of Bison right fielder to easily score Richardson for the 7-1 lead.
