Special to GoUSFBulls.com
By: Stephen Hanewinckel

TAMPA - A seventh inning rally by USF gained momentum with each pitch, only to fall short for only the second loss at home this year.

The Bulls (20-5) fell short in their rally attempt, falling to Fairfield 2-1 Friday to kick off the USF Invite at the USF Softball Stadium.

In a tight game, Fairfield's one run in each of the first two innings kept the Bulls from victory. A two-out rally in the seventh began with a dropped fly ball allowing Kenshyra Jackson to reach third base. After a walk, a ten pitch at bat by Janine Richardson ended in the final out stranding the tying run on third.

Freshman pitcher Sam Greiner got the starting nod, tossing five and two-third's of an inning, allowing four hits and a walk. Sophomore Sara Nevins closed the game, not allowing a hit.

Fairfield took an early lead in the first inning with a two out RBI single. The Stags had a stolen base sandwiched between two infield singles. With runners on first and third the stags squeezed a single through the infield scoring the opening run of the game.

Fairfield capitalized on consecutive USF errors putting the first two runners on base. A single back up the middle stretched the Fairfield lead to two. USF prevented more damage, catching a runner off third base and cutting off the Stags' rally.

USF produced its only run in the third. With shortstop Kourtney Salvarola on first, junior designated player Kenshyra Jackson hit a laser into the left-centerfield gap giving the Bulls their only run of the game.