The Bulls got the timely hitting they needed to pick up the four runs, and that was all they would need as freshman Sara Nevins was stellar yet again in the win.
Nevins pitched the complete 7.0 innings, her 11th complete game of the season, shutting out the Blue Demons on just two hits while striking out six to earn her 15th win of the year.
The Bulls got two of their runs on a double by another freshman Kourtney Salvarola, who finished the day 1-for-3 at the plate with the two runs batted in and a run scored.
The second hit of the game for the Bulls came from Kelly McCarver, also in the third, as she beat out an infield single to begin the rally in the third, part of a 1-for-3 effort on the day.
Alexis Nowell had the only other hit for the Bulls as she missed a home run by just inches in the seventh as she doubled off the wall in center, her only hit of the day.
Both teams' bats were quiet through the first two innings, but in the top of the third, the USF offense came alive. The Bulls combined for four runs on two hits to take the 4-0 lead. Kelly McCarver started off the rally by beating out a high chopper to third base and Alexis Nowell reached on a single to short bringing up the top of the USF order. Gina Kafalas executed a sacrifice bunt moving both runners into scoring position and McCarver beat a throw at the plate on a ground ball by Ashli Goff giving USF the 1-0 lead.
The Bulls would not stop there.
Kourtney Salvarola ripped a double to the gap in left-center clearing the bases to extend the Bulls lead to 3-0. Janine Richardson reached on an error and Salvarola moved to third, eventually scoring on an RBI groundout to second by Stephanie Medina to give the Bulls the 4-0 lead in the third.
DePaul finally got their first hit of the game on a one-out single in the third by Allie Braden and a walk to Alex Morocco left Nevins in a jam. After a short visit from Eriksen, Nevins got some help from her defense. Nevins got Plese to pop up a bunt to Medina who doubled-up Braden at first ending the inning and the threat in the bottom of the third.
Nevins would take control from there.
The freshman allowed just three hits over the final 3.0, surrendering an unearned run on a throwing error by Laura Fountain in the sixth and another unearned in the seventh to hand DePaul just their second BIG EAST loss of the season.
USF will look to sweep the double-header as the two teams get right back at it in game two of the three-game series at Cacciatore Stadium.
