TAMPA – The University of South Florida softball team (5-4) ended the USF La Quinta Inn and Suites Tournament with a 4-1 loss to the undefeated Hofstra Pride, who improve to 5-0 on the year.
"We are still in the first 10 games of the year," said head coach Ken Eriksen. "It really starts to get going next weekend when we head to Arizona State, but it all begins working hard tomorrow."
Hofstra quickly went to work on ending a four-game losing skid against the Bulls. The Pride's Olivia Galati singled up the middle to plate Kristine Root to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
With two runners in scoring position, right fielder Gina Kafalas ran down a ball that was sure to score both runs, but ended the first inning without any more damage.
Back-to-back walks by JoJo Medina and Stormi Grzybek with one out in the second was just what sophomore Laura Fountain needed. She singled up the middle to score pinch runner Becky Frye. Grzybek was caught running to third on the throw home.
"I thought Laura Fountain played really well this weekend," said Eriksen. "She hit the ball well and she was a bright spot in this game as well. She is seeing the ball well."
Hofstra's Christie Novatin sent a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall in the fourth to retake the lead, 2-1. After Richardson gave up the first two walks of her career, Becca Bigler doubled to right center to allow Galati to cross home plate for the 3-1 lead.
Senior Kristen Gordon came in to replace Richardson and Ziemba sent the ball to center allowing Trisha Dreslinski to tag up and increase the Pride's lead to three.
Hofstra's Olivia Galati was stellar against the Bulls hurling a complete game, allowing three hits and striking out five.
"You have to give the pitcher for the other team a lot of credit," said Eriksen. "Those are the type of kids you go out and recruit. We rebound by coming out and working hard tomorrow."
Lindsey Richardson suffered her first loss as she fell to 3-1 on the year throwing 3.1 innings, walking two and giving up four runs. She struck out four in the game, increasing her season total to 36 in 24.0 innings.
"Although Lindsey got the loss, it was great experience for her," said Eriksen. "She is a very good pitcher and sometimes you have to experience the bottom before the top and today was one of the days that was pretty bad for her. But she is a competitor and she will bounce back from this."
Gordon finished the game for the Bulls in relief and did now allow a run while striking out three.
The Bulls are set for its first road trip of the season with a three-game series against No. 5/7 Arizona State. USF's first game against the Sun Devils is on Friday at 9 p.m. The two square off again on Saturday at 9 p.m. and closing the series out on Sunday at 1 p.m. All times are Eastern Standard Time.
