TAMPA - After taking the first two games of the weekend series, the University of South Florida Bulls finished the series sweep of the Connecticut Huskies with an 8-0 run-rule win in Sunday's finale.

The Bulls have now won five straight games and 16 of their last 18 to improve to 32-16 on the year and 12-1 in league games clinching them a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament.

Bulls ace Sara Nevins took the mound for the final game of the weekend series against UConn after earning her program-record eighth save in game on Friday and a team-high 13th win of the year in game two. Nevins improved to 14-5 by throwing her fifth consecutive complete game shutout while allowing just four hits and striking out five.

With five K's on Sunday, the freshman moved into sixth place in program history with 17 strikeouts on the season, surpassing current pitching coach and former USF star Monica Triner.

It wasn't just the pitching that stood out on Sunday.

Each of the top four batters in the USF order collected two hits on the day. Gina Kafalas went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, Ashi Goff went 2-for-3 with a run scored and one RBI, Kourtney Salvarola finished the day 2-for-2 with two RBI and three runs scored, including the eighth of the day to clinch the run rule. And Janine Richardson went 2-for-3 from the dish with three RBI.

The sweep was the fifth series sweep of the season for the Bulls and the third conference sweep, all of which have come at home.

A three-up, three-down, and two strikeout first-inning was the defensive tone that would be set by Nevins and the Bulls.

A single up the middle by Kafalas would get the wheels turning for the Bulls in the third.  Goff grounded out to second to advance Kafalas to second who moved to third on a passed ball.  Salvarola then shot a single to right, bringing in Kafalas and giving the Bulls the 1-0 lead. 

In the fourth shortstop Janine Richardson reached on a fielder's choice and nearly left Salvarola to be thrown out at second.  First-baseman Stephanie medina would walk her way to first and load of the bases for catcher Laura Fountain.  Foutain successfully sacrificed to center, allowing Salvarola to score pushing the lead to 2-0.  

With two hits already on the day, Kafalas made her third trip to first base again in the fourth, and another Goff sacrifice would advance Kafalas to second with Salvarola at the plate.  Salvarola ripped one down the left-line for an RBI double with Kafalas coming home. 

Janine Richardson stepped up to the plate and smacked a double straight up the middle, nearly knocking the pitcher off her feet bringing Salvarola home for the second time on the day giving the Bulls the 4-0 lead. 

The Huskies threatened in the top of the fifth and got a single with a runner in scoring position but a picturesque throw from Goff in left gunned the runner down at home, and Nevins got the strikeout to end the threat.

A UConn call to the bullpen brought out pitcher Ali Adelman, but that move would be questioned as Nowell took the third hit-by-pitch of the day and advanced McCarver to second.  Kafalas stepped up and sacrificed to put McCarver and Nowell into scoring position on third and second. Goff then came through with a single to the shortstop to bring home McCarver giving the Bulls the 5-0 lead.

But, they weren't done yet.

Janine Richardson drove in two on a single to left, and Medina ended the game early by singling to right bringing Salvarola home for the eighth run of the day giving the Bulls the run-rule victory.

Following the sweep, the Bulls will battle another of the BIG EAST's best as Notre Dame comes to Tampa for a midweek double-header on Wednesday beginning at noon. Both games of the double-header can be seen live on Brighthouse Sports Network.