CLEARWATER, Fla. - Head Coach Ken Eriksen earned his 600th career win at the University of South Florida (13-12) in a 13-5 stomp over Florida A&M (12-13). Junior Kendall Arnold ripped two extra base hits including a two-run shot to left field in the third inning.
"She (Kendall) worked hard all week," said Eriksen. "Kendall wasn't getting a lot of bats this week because of her timing issues, but she had an opportunity today and she took advantage of it. It shows me she wants to play and get better and do the things it takes. I am really proud of her."
The Bulls snapped a four-game losing streak, using an eight-run first inning in the win in the USF The Game Tournament at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
Senior Tara Toscano and sophomore Janine Richardson both reached safely on fielder's choices in the top half of the first. Senior Alison Savarese ripped a shot through the left side to plate Toscano for the first run for the Bulls. A double steal by Richardson and Savarese put both runners in scoring position, but a Rattler error allowed Richardson to easily cross home. The Bulls' third hit in a row, this time by senior catcher Cat Olnick, plated Savarese for the third run.
With the bases loaded and two outs and a five-run lead in the first, Toscano roped her first career triple to the right center wall, giving the Bulls the commanding 8-0 lead.
"Tara has been Miss Diversity for us this year," said Eriksen. "Every time we need her to get a big hit, she give us a big hit. If we need her to lay down a bunt, she does that for us."
The Rattlers put their first run on the board off starter Lindsey Richardson. The freshman tossed 5.0 innings, scattering nine hits, walking one and striking out seven. All five runs were off Richardson, but only three were earned.
Florida A&M's Erika Garcia singled to right field and advanced to third on an error. A chopped ball hit by Corin Gordon plated Garcia to cut the lead, 8-1.
The Bulls answered in the top of the third, when Arnold smashed the first ball she saw over the left field fence. Junior Kelly McCarver was on base, who reached on a single through the right side to start the inning.
"I saw it right out of her hand," said Arnold. "It was right where I wanted it to be. Coach told me before the game that she was a drop ball pitcher so I needed to wait and get my pitch and to hit the top of it, and I did."
In the bottom half of the third, the Rattlers brought across two more runs. Two back-to-back singles brought up Tenisha Dixon who singled up the middle. Bulls centerfielder, Richardson, fired the ball home where catcher Melanie Stickney tagged the runner out. Two infield singles by the Rattlers with the bases loaded and two outs started to inch FAMU back, making it 10-3.
After a run in the fifth by FAMU, USF scored three runs in the top of the sixth to put the run-rule in effect. Richardson doubled off the top of the left field fence and moved to third on a Savarese single. Senior JoJo Medina walked to load the bases for Stickney, who singled to center to bring home Richardson. Two sac flies by Stormi Grzybek and Alexis Nowell put the Bulls up by nine.
Just needing to hold the lead, Eriksen brought in sophomore Brittany Bowles to close out the game and preserve the win. The righty tossed 1.0 innings, only allowing one hit.
Jennifer Lindsey earned the loss, hurling 6.0 innings, giving up 12 hits, 13 runs, five walks, while only striking out one.
Eriksen is now 600-315-1 in his 14th season as the Bulls head coach.
The Bulls take on Towson at 10 a.m. tomorrow in the final day of the USF The Game Tournament. USF will close out the tourney with No. 19 Florida State at 1 p.m. The 1 p.m. game will be televised live on Bright House Sport Network.
Below is the information for the Bulls opponents coming into the weekend:
Towson- The Tigers are now 11-3 on the season and are currently in a nine game winning streak. The team is led by three players who have all received CAA Player of the Week honors. Sophomore center fielder Erika Stasch most recently earned the award and is hitting .294 on the season, but hit .538 over the last week with no strikeouts in 13 at bats. Also receiving the award earlier in the year was freshman pitcher Katie Lingmai, with a .72 ERA on the year, and sophomore pitcher Dominique Ortega, with a 1.88 ERA.
The Series vs. Towson - The matchup against the Tigers will mark the third meeting between the teams. The Bulls got both wins in a doubleheader in 2006, where USF shutout Towson 3-0 in each.
Florida State- The Seminoles are 24-4 coming into the weekend and have six batters above .300. The team is led by senior outfielder Carly Wynn who is boasting a .415 average with thirteen doubles and twenty RBIs. Batting closely behind is sophomore outfielder Shayla Jackson with a .388 average. Senior infielder Tory Haddad is leading the Seminoles with six homeruns while junior catcher Jen Lapicki is leading in RBIs with 23. In the circle junior pitcher of the Week Sarah Hamilton shines with a 1.23 ERA and a 12-2 record. Hamilton has 148 strikeouts in 91.1 innings pitched.
The Series vs. Florida State - The matchup against the No. 19 Seminoles dates back since the first season of fastpitch for USF. The matchup on Feb. 23, 1985, was the first game in Bulls history, falling to FSU 2-1 but defeating them in the second game of the doubleheader 4-3. The Seminoles have a 38-12 series lead over USF, with its last meeting happening over 10 years ago, where the Bulls fell both games in 1999.
