USF Opens New Stadium With 8-0 Win
February 25, 2011 | Softball
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TAMPA – The University of South Florida softball team opened their new stadium in grand fashion on Thursday night with an 8-0 run-rule victory over Central Connecticut State in five innings.
Head coach Ken Eriksen and the Bulls could not have asked for a better start to the new era of USF softball, as they made quick work of the Blue Devils in front of a crowd of 785.
The new USF Softball Stadium took center stage on the night, but pitcher Lindsey Richardson and shortstop Kourtney Salvarola shined nearly as bright.
Richardson had her best outing of the young 2011 season, going 4.0 innings while allowing just a single hit in the third inning while fanning three and walking none to earn her third win of the year.
Salvarola, while just a freshman, did not shy away from the bright lights of the new stadium, as she collected three RBI while going 2-2 from the plate, and scored a pair of runs as well.
Along with Salvarola, three other Bulls scattered a pair of hits each on the night including Gina Kafalas, Janine Richardson and Stephanie Medina.
Medina drove in three RBI, and Kafalas drove in one and scored one on the night.
A group of 23 former USF softball players joined the current squad on the field as a part of the pregame festivities to throw the ceremonial first pitch, and then enjoyed the hospitality pavilion throughout the USF victory.
The Bulls did not take long to make themselves at home in the new stadium, as Lindsey Richardson retired Central Connecticut in order in the top half of the first, and the offense got going in the bottom half of the inning.
After Kafalas grounded to third, Salvarola walked and eventually scored after back-to-back singles by Janine Richardson and Medina to give the Bulls the 1-0 lead after one.
Lindsey Richardson was perfect again in the second frame, and the Bulls' bats exploded for six runs in the bottom of the second to blow the game open.
Stormi Grzybeck grounded out to begin the inning before Laura Fountain walked and Alexis Nowell grounded out. With two outs, the USF bats came alive. The Bulls scattered six runs on six hits, all with two outs in the inning, highlighted by a two RBI double by Medina.
USF would add another in the bottom of the third to make it 8-0 through three, which was all the pitching staff would need as Richardson shut down the Blue Devils in the fourth before giving way to freshman Sara Nevins who pitched a scoreless fifth and sealed the 8-0 run-rule win.
The Bulls will be off on Friday before playing host to No. 16 Missouri at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday as part of the USF Fairfield Inn and Suites Tampa North Tournament. USF will also square off against Illinois State in the nightcap.
