GAME 2

TAMPA - The University of South Florida dropped the finale of the USF Fairfield Inn and Suites Tournament on Sunday afternoon to Temple, 6-1.

The loss drops the Bulls below .500 for the first time in 2011, falling to 7-8 on the season.

USF was able to get on base, but was unable to capitalize on bases loaded opportunities throughout the game. The Bulls defense also struggled as the team committed five errors in the loss.

USF left 11 on base throughout the game, but got solid production from freshman Stephanie Medina throughout the tournament, who picked up an RBI against Temple. Medina finished the weekend 7-fo-12 with seven RBI and three runs scored.

Sara Nevins came on in relief yet again against the Owls and pitched the Bulls out of a sixth-inning jam to keep the Bulls alive heading into the bottom of the sixth, but they could not capitalize.

The Bulls loaded the bases in their half of the first inning after singles by Ashli Goff and Janine Richardson and a walk by Medina, but could not push a run across as Erin Bly struck out with the bases loaded to strand three.

Temple responded by loading the bases in the top of the second, and they were able to hang a four spot courtesy of an error by Brittney Garvey behind the plate followed by a wild sequence in which a passed ball and an error allowed three runs to score.

USF loaded the bases for the second consecutive inning in the bottom of the second, and scored after Stormi Gzybeck walked to force in the run, cutting the Owl lead to 4-1 after two.

Temple scored another pair of runs in the top of the third capped by an RBI double, extending the lead to 6-1.

The Bulls added a second run when Janine Richardson scored on a passed ball, but Temple added two more in the top of the sixth to make it 8-2.

Because of prior travel plans, the game ended early after the bottom of the sixth inning.

USF will play host to Western Michigan on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. before beginning the USF Series on Friday.

GAME 1

TAMPA - After the emotional walk-off win late Saturday night over Illinois State, the Bulls came out flat against No. 2 Alabama, as they dropped their first game of the day, 12-1.

Freshman Kourtney Salvarola provided all of the Bulls scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the third as she went 1-fo-2 on the day.

Stephanie Medina kept her hot bat going with a second-inning single to improve her weekend total at the plate to 7-for-10 with six RBI and a pair of runs scored.

Capri Catalano (1-2) got her first start in the new USF Stadium in front of another large crowd, but lasted just 2.1 innings and allowed eight runs, six earned, on eight hits, while walking one to take her second loss of the year.

Lindsey Richardson came on in relief of Catalano in the third and allowed four more runs before giving way to freshman Sara Nevins, who pitched the final 1.1 innings of scoreless ball.

The No. 2 team in the country did not take long to showcase their offensive firepower, as the Tide collected a pair of singles before a double by Cassie Reilly-Bossacia to left-center gave Alabama the early 2-0 advantage. Catalano and the Bulls got out of the first thanks to a line-drive, unassisted double-play at short by Salvarola.

The Bulls went in order in their half of the first, followed by a two-run second by the Crimson Tide. Alabama got three singles and a pair of stolen bases in the inning to tack on two more, giving them a 4-0 lead after two.

After a deep fly ball to center by Janine Richardson to start the bottom of the second, Medina continued her hot streak at the plate with a single through the right side. An Erin Bly walk and an error by the second baseman on a grounder by Stormi Grzybeck loaded the bases for the Bulls with just one out. Medina was forced out on a grounder to short by Laura Fountain, and Alexis Nowell could not reach as she struck out looking to leave the bases loaded, ending the threat in the second.

Alabama busted it open in the top of the third as they loaded the bases and got a one-out grand slam from Kaila Hunt to give the Crimson Tide the 8-0 advantage, chasing Catalano from the game.

The Bulls got a blast from Salvarola in the bottom of the third to deep right field, her first traditional home run of the year. Salvarola had an inside-the-park home run earlier in the season.

Alabama responded immediately in the top of the fourth with four runs, including a home run by Jackey Branham, to push the Tide lead to 12-1 through four.

Both teams remained scoreless the rest of the way as the Bulls were run-ruled after five.

USF gets right back into action with a 3:15 p.m. start against Temple in the finale of the USF Fairfield Inn and Suites Tournament.