By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA - Sam Greiner was fantastic in her collegiate debut Friday afternoon.

The freshman right-hander struck out eight in six shutout innings of USF softball's season-opening 8-1 win over Maine before a crowd of 340 at USF Softball Stadium.

Greiner gave up three hits and didn't surrender a walk while making two appearances. Reliever Sara Nevins struck out one and gave up the Bulls' lone run on an illegal pitch in the fifth.

Third baseman Jessica Mouse also shined in her USF debut by reaching base three times. The senior went 1-for-2 with three RBIs and also walked twice. Kenshyra Jackson went 1-for-1, drove in two runs and walked once for the Bulls, who scored seven runs in the first two innings.

The Bulls jumped all over Maine in the bottom half of the first inning with a four-run outburst all with two outs. Kourtney Salvarola started off the scoring with an RBI single, Jackson added another run-scoring single and Mouse followed with a two-run double.

Ashli Goff kept the runs coming in the second inning with an RBI single past the shortstop that marked the Bulls fifth hit of the game. Goff went to second on the throw and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Maine starting pitcher Beth Spoehr followed with four walks that resulted in a 7-0 lead and an early exit for the right-hander. Spoehr gave up five hits and walked six while facing only 16 batters.

Laura Fountain's RBI single pumped USF's lead up to 8-0 through four innings. That was more than enough for the Bulls, who gave up four hits in the first game of a doubleheader.

USF is set to take on Florida Gulf Coast University at about 4:45 p.m.