Special to GOUSFBULLS.COM
By: Stephen Hanewinckel

Tampa - Contagious hitting and shutout pitching became the formula for the University of South Florida Saturday, topping Wisconsin 5-0 in front of a crowd of 512 to open up the USF Invitational. The Bulls (4-1 overall, 0-0 BIG EAST) combined efforts in the pitching circle, using a pair of righties to shut out the Badgers.

Freshman pitcher Sam Greiner got the start, tossing two and a third innings to extend her scoreless innings streak to nine. Greiner has allowed just three hits in three appearances, striking out 11. Wisconsin threatened in the top of each of the three innings, but Greiner prevented any scoring.

Junior pitcher Lindsey Richardson had a dominant performance in the circle, retiring 14 of the 15 batters she faced, striking out six in four and two thirds innings. Richardson ended a brewing rally in the third, coaxing a pair of outs with runners on first and second. Wisconsin failed to advance past first base for the remainder of the game.

Clutch hitting in the fourth and sixth innings were led by senior outfielder Janine Richardson and senior third baseman Jessica Mouse, with two hits apiece.

Sophomore shortstop Kourtney Salvarola broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth, fisting a double into left field, scoring Janine Richardson. With runners on second and third, Mouse dropped a perfect bunt down the third base line, catching the Badgers off-guard and reaching first with an RBI single on the squeeze play. The Bulls manufactured one more run in the fourth, scoring on senior catcher Laura Fountain's RBI groundout.

USF scored two more in the sixth, plating one on the pinch-hit double off junior infielder Kenshyra Jackson's bat. Jackson would later score on a wild pitch.

USF turns around to play Arkansas in a Saturday nightcap, and will face Georgia Southern Sunday at 1 p.m. to finish off the tournament.