GAME 2:

TAMPA- The South Florida softball team could not, suffering a loss to the University of Massachusetts in a game that saw little-to-no offense from the home team.

The culprit was junior UMASS pitcher Sara Plourde who ran through the Bulls lineup to earn a complete-game, 4-0 shutout. 

Bulls' sophomore pitcher Lindsey Richardson (3.75 ERA), who came into the game tied for the team lead (with freshman Sara Nevins) with five wins on the season, got off to a rocky start. In the first, she walked four UMASS hitters and surrendered two earned runs before getting out of a 39-pitch inning. 

Richardson began to settle down the second and did not a walk another batter in the game, but never got any run support. She lasted five innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on five hits, while throwing 99 pitches, her second highest pitch total of the season (100 pitches against Arkansas on March 4). 

The offense struggled to get anything going against UMASS's Sara Plourde, who struck out the side in the first and six of the first eight batters she faced in the game. She allowed only one hit, which came in the bottom of the third and finished with fifteen strikeouts and one walk in a complete-game shutout of USF. 

Only two Bulls players reached base in the game, and neither made it past first. 

Freshman outfielder Ashli Goff had the team's only hit in the game with a single in the third.

The Bulls' mistakes on defense didn't help their chances of winning either. They had three errors in the game, including one on a wild throw to first by Richardson in the fourth that led to two more UMASS runs. 

Next, the team will travel to Clearwater, Fla. for the remainder of the USF Under Armour Showcase at Eddie C. Moore Field. They will play the Green Bay Phoenix in the first game Saturday at 12:30 p.m., followed by a 3 p.m. matchup with Central Michigan.

GAME 1:

TAMPA- The University of South Florida softball team's late rally fell just short against Toledo on Friday afternoon as they were defeated 5-4. 

The Bulls (13-11) scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of a three-run home run by Stephanie Medina to draw them within one heading into the seventh, but were unable to complete the comeback as they went down in order in the seventh. 

Toledo was led by Wright who went 3-3 with two runs batted in. The Rockets got to Bulls starting pitcher Brittany Bowles early on, tallying five hits and scoring three runs in just 1.1 innings.

Gina Kafalas scored a pair of runs while going 1-4 from the plate and Medina finished the day 1-2 with three RBI, while freshman Kourtney Salvarola went 1-2 with a run scored and an RBI.

Toledo (2-11) struck early as they posted two runs in the top of the first inning. Sophomores Becki Heimbigner and Courtney McCarthy both singled to lead off the inning before Erinn Wright doubled to left field to score Heimbigner for the Rockets first run. Later in the inning Sophomore Lindsey Tobias was hit by a pitch from USF starter Brittany Bowles with the bases loaded, scoring McCarthy to extend the lead to 2-0.

The Bulls responded quickly in the bottom of the first when Gina Kafalas scored on a bunt single by Kourtney Salvarola to cut Toledo's lead to one. 

The Rockets regained their two-run lead in the top of the second, going up 3-1, after McCarthy singled through the left side to score Brooke Gates. Gates stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch after singling through the left side to lead off the inning. Bulls starting pitcher Brittany Bowles was relieved by Capri Catalano immediately after the run.

Catalano worked her way out of numerous jams in the fourth and fifth innings, including a wild play which helped Catalano get out of the fifth. With runners at second and third and one out Catalano struck out Mandy Augerson on a check swing, but the pitch got away from catcher Brittany Garvey and Tobias tried to score from third, but was thrown out by Garvey to end the inning.

However, in the top of the sixth Toledo would strike again adding two more runs. Wright doubled down the left field line to score Heimbigner who singled to lead off the inning. Then McCarthy scored from third on a passed ball to make the score 5-1 after the top half of the sixth.

Again USF would respond in the bottom half of the inning with a three-run homer by Stephanie Medina, her fourth of the season. Kafalas led off the inning with a bunt single then Salvarola reached after being hit by a pitch before Medina's blast to make it 5-4.

Bulls head coach Ken Eriksen was tossed right before the top of the seventh inning after arguing with the home plate umpire after numerous close calls.

The Bulls were unable to complete the comeback as they went down in order in the bottom of the seventh.

USF will play later today at 6 p.m. against the University of Massachusetts before heading to Clearwater on Saturday and Sunday.