TAMPA - Both teams battled Saturday afternoon but the Wolfpack of NC State came away victorious with a 4-0 win over the University of South Florida softball team, dropping the Bulls to 5-3 on the year.
In the bottom of the first Janine Richardson led off the game with a walk and stole second with one out, but USF was unable to capitalize with Richardson in scoring position.
In the top of the third inning, the Wolfpack struck first as they scored two runs on three hits all on two outs. Sophomore Brittany Bowles surrendered all three hits. A two-out walk by Bowles triggered the Wolfpack rally. After two straight singles loaded the bases, NC State's Claudia Cooper singled up the middle to plate the first two runs of the game.
Sophomore Gina Kafalas singled to left for the first hit for the Bulls in the bottom half of the third. Kafalas was picked off third after taking a wide turn after a NC State error, making the final out of the inning.
The Wolfpack continued to hit the ball hard but were caught in a 1-3 double play after Alyssa Ishibashi lined to pitcher Kristen Gordon to end the top of the fourth.
NC State increased its lead adding two more runs in the fifth on three hits. A heads up play by freshman catch Stormi Grzybek caught Cooper out at third attempting to advance to the next base to record the second out of the inning.
Senior Kristen Gordon relieved Bowles in the fifth with two outs and a runner on second, striking out Kristine Bechtholdt to end the inning. Bowles suffered her first loss of the season, throwing 4.2 innings whwile giving up eight hits and four earned runs. NC State's Lindsay Campana earned her third win striking out nine in her first complete game shutout of the season
Olnick looked to rally the Bulls in the bottom of the seventh as she stroked a ball down the third base line but Bridget Desbois' diving play recorded the first out of the inning. Sophomore Laura Fountain singled a shot to center with two outs. but the Bulls were unable put a run on scoreboard.
The Bulls tallied four hits in the game but never could string them together as USF was shutout for the first time during the 2010 season.
