By Stephen Hanewinckel

Special to GoUSFBulls.com

TAMPA - With a dominant Sara Nevins in the circle, a two-run, two-out rally in the fourth was all the Bulls needed to secure victory.

No. 24 USF (21-5 overall) rallied from a first-inning deficit, and held off the Northwestern Wildcats defensively to pick up the 2-1 win Friday at the USF Softball Stadium.

Consecutive pinch hitters produced consecutive runs for the Bulls in the fourth. After a pinch-hit walk by freshman Sydney Dinelli tied the game, junior Stormi Grzybek beat a sharp chopper through the middle to bring home the go-ahead run. It was Grzybek's first hit of the season, coming at an opportune time.

"It's the little things that win the ball game," head coach Ken Eriksen said. "That's what are team has to do to win. We're not a powerful home run hitting team. We have to hit the ball on the ground and make things happen."

Stormi Gryzbek embraced her pinch-hit role. "I'm just happy that I finally get to produce for my team." Gryzbek said. "I finally stepped up and took that opportunity. It just feels good to get a hit and help the team."

Sophomore pitcher Sara Nevins pitched a complete game victory, striking out 13 and allowing just five hits. Nevins earned her eleventh win of the season, finishing her tenth consecutive appearance without allowing an earned run.

"As a hitter, you've got to get to good pitchers early. If you don't get them early then you're not going to get a chance," Eriksen said. "She wasn't as sharp in the first and second innings, but she started grooving it. She was throwing some stuff that I haven't seen in a while, and doing it against a really good team."

The Wildcats pounced in the first inning, taking 1-0 lead. A lead-off single, stolen base and error gave Northwestern a runner on third with no outs. The Wildcats squeezed home the run, scoring their only run of the game.

USF rallied in the fourth inning with the bases loaded. Junior designated player Kenshyra Jackson hit a lead off single. After sophomore shortstop Kourtney Salvarola reached base on a sacrifice bunt, outfielder Janine Richardson walked to load the bases. After back-to-back outs, freshman pinch-hitter Sydney Dinelli drew a four pitch walk to tie the game. Another pinch hitter junior Stormi Grzybek hit a chopper over the pitcher to give USF the 2-1 lead.

The Bulls continue the USF Invite at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater against Northern Illinois and Kent State beginning at 1:45p.m.