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| L - Richardson |
3.0 |
10 |
6 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
VILLANOVA, Pa. - Although sophomore
Laura Fountain hit her first career home run, the University of South Florida softball team (21-25 overall, 6-9 BIG EAST) dropped a crucial conference game to the Villanova Wildcats (19-27, 5-10), 8-4, on Wednesday.
The Wildcats unloaded their offense on the Bulls, hitting a BIG EAST best 18 hits in the game. USF also tallied double-digit hits at 10, but left eight runners on base.
Fountain added a triple in the second inning for her first of the season. Senior JoJo Medina was perfect at the plate going 3-for-3, including a double off the top of the left field fence.
Villanova was first to strike, scoring three runs on a Molly Manning homer and an Amanda Marquez RBI single in the bottom of the first.
The Bulls responded, scoring two runs in the top of the second to cut the lead to one. Freshman Stormi Grzybek roped a leadoff single to center. Fountain laced a triple to right center to give the Bulls their first run of the game. After Alexis Nowell earned a walk after falling 0-2 in the count, sophomore Gina Kafalas popped a single to right field to drive in Fountain from third with two outs.
With starting pitcher Lindsey Richardson holding the Wildcats scoreless in the second, Fountain and the Bulls took their first lead of the game. After Medina earned a leadoff walk to begin the third, Fountain sent a ball over the right field fence, giving the Bulls a 4-3 lead. Medina's walk in the third was the 127th of her career, tying her for second all-time with Shelly Riker.
Villanova scored a run in the third to tie the game at 4-4.
The Bulls defense faltered in the fourth inning, allowing four unearned runs to score on two errors.
Richardson (10-7) earned the loss, only lasting 3.0 innings and surrendering 10 hits, six runs - four earned - while only striking out one.
Manning (11-10) tossed the complete game against the Bulls in the win, walking five and giving up four runs, all earned.
