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CLEARWATER, Fla. - The University of South Florida softball team remained perfect in 2011 behind a stellar pitching performance from freshman Sara Nevins in a 7-1 win over Florida Gulf Coast.
Nevins went the distance collecting 13 strikeouts in the first start of her career, while allowing just one run on three hits. The Bulls' rookie was perfect through the first three innings, striking out nine of the first 13 batters.
The USF offense struck early, and gave Nevins all the run support that she needed, as the Bulls' bats combined for 8 runs on 10 hits in the win.
Junior Gina Kafalas did an excellent job setting the table for the Bulls once again, reaching base three times and scoring two runs on the day and driving in one.
Freshman Kourtney Salvarola had another two hit performance, driving in one, and scoring two.
Janine Richardson and Erin Bly each picked up a pair of hits and a pair of RBI in the win, while Stephanie Medina added a pair of RBI as well.
From the beginning of the game, Nevins was dealing in the circle. The freshman retired the side in order in each of the first three innings, as she struck out the side in the second.
The Bulls gave Nevins all the breathing room that she would need in the bottom half of the first. Kafalas drew a walk to lead off the inning, and immediately stole second and advanced to third on an errant throw by the FGCU catcher. After a flyout to center by Kourtney Salvarola, Kafalas came in to score on a sacrifice slap by Janine Richardson to third, giving USF the early 1-0 advantage.
The Bulls stranded a pair in the second, but would not squander the same opportunity in the bottom half of the third.
Kafalas once again drew the leadoff walk, and Salvarola followed it up with a single through the left side. Richardson grounded into a fielder's choice at third, and Medina followed with a knubber to third for the second out. With runners on first and second, Bly roped a line drive into left-center field for the two-run double, extending the Bulls' lead to 3-0.
Nevins continued dealing in the bottom of the fourth, striking out the side while allowing the first hit of the game on a single to Courtney Platt on a hard ground ball up the middle.
The Bulls went in order in the bottom of the fourth, and Nevins struck out another pair in the fifth, sandwiched with a walk, the first of the tournament issued by the Bulls.
Kafalas reached for the third time of the game on an error by the first baseman to lead off the Bulls' half of the fifth, and immediately stole second. Salvarola laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Kafalas to third, and Richardon drove a 2-2 pitch to the gap in right center to bring in Kafalas. Stephanie Medina then laid down the squeeze to score Richardson from third giving USF the 5-0 lead.
The Eagles got a leadoff single to short to begin the sixth and after an error by Richardson at short, FGCU got a bunt single to load the bases with none out. A sacrifice fly to left put the Eagles on the board, but Nevins struck out the next two to get out of the jam.
USF added three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend their lead to six, 7-1.
The lead was enough as Lindsey Richardson came in to close out the seventh, and the Bulls' third win of the weekend
