TAMPA – The University of South Florida softball team (9-7) came from behind in its second straight game to defeat the Maine Black Bears (9-14) in a 5-3 win at the USF Softball Stadium.
For the second night in a row, the opposing team scored two runs in the top half of the first inning. Maine scored two runs to take the early lead, but once again the Bulls fought back to steal the win.
Kristen Calvetti laid down a squeeze bunt to in front of home plate in the first inning. Alexis Souhlaris, running on the hit, slid into home safely to score the first run. With runners on first and second, Kali Burnham singed up the middle to bring in the second run for the Black Bears.
For the second inning in a row, Maine tacked on another run to extend its lead to 3-0.
Senior JoJo Medina started the second inning doubling down the left field line. Pinch runner Becky Frye advanced to third on the groundout to third and advanced home on a throwing error, putting the first run on the board for the Bulls.
In the fourth inning, the Bulls threatened with bases loaded but were unable to put any runs across, keeping the Maine lead to two.
Down 3-1, sophomore Gina Kafalas singled to start the fifth and advance to second the next pitch on a passed ball. Senior Tara Toscano slapped a single through the left side to advance Kafalas to third with nobody out. Senior Alison Savarese, the Bulls RBI leader, knocked Kafalas home on a single through the left side to cut the lead to 3-2. After an illegal pitch was called on Maine's relief pitcher, Ashley Kelly, Toscano trotted down to home to even the game, 3-3.
In the sixth, Maine's Kirsten Allen reached first on an error to start in inning. After Stephanie George attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, Savarese quickly picked up the ball, getting the lead runner out at second for the first out. Senior pitcher Kristen Gordon, who entered the game in the sixth, retired the next two batters in her 12th appearance of the season.
With Kendall Arnold on first, sophomore Alexis Nowell doubled down the right field line to put both runners in scoring position. Kafalas chopped a ball to the shortstop who wildly threw the ball away, allowing both runners to touch home and take the 5-3 lead.
Gordon earned her second win in a row, tossing 2.0 innings while not allowing a run or walk. The righty is now 2-1 on the year.
Kelley (5-3) suffered the loss, hurling 2.0 innings and giving up four runs on five hits.
