TAMPA - Using two pitchers to complete a one-hitter and the team's eleventh shutout of the season, there is no doubt the University of South Florida softball team's pitching staff is a strength.

The Bulls (23-5 overall) came out ahead in another pitchers' duel, riding five strong innings from freshman pitcher Sam Greiner to outlast Kent State 1-0 Saturday afternoon at Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex in Clearwater, Fla.

"She's buying into the system and learning to pitch," head coach Ken Eriksen said. "When you give up one hit as a staff to a team that can hit like Kent State, that's saying something about your staff."

Greiner (5-3) controlled both sides of the plate, forcing nine groundouts and allowing just two sharply-hit balls over five innings - one finding a hole for a single - to stymie the Golden Flashes throughout her outing.

"I felt a lot better today than I have in the past few games," Greiner said. "I got a lot of ground balls today and my defense was there to back me up. "

Greiner, who struck out four, only faced one scoring threat as an error to lead off the second inning allowed Kent State to set up a scoring situation. The Flashes' sole hit against Greiner up the middle sent Kent State's runner heading home, but a strong throw from Janine Richardson in center field cut down the runner at the plate, preserving a then-scoreless game.

With both pitchers dealing and the teams playing for a run late in the game, USF finally managed to push a run across in the fifth. Senior catcher took the first pitch she saw and drilled it to the fence in left for a leadoff double. With one out and Fountain on third, senior outfielder Gina Kafalas slapped a liner over the drawn-in infield, bringing home the lone run of the game.

"Coach Eriksen talked to us before the inning about being smart and getting the bat-head to the ball," Fountain said. "I made a little adjustment and got a good pitch to hit, and fortunately it fell in."

With Sam Greiner's five shutout innings in the books and the freshman in line for the win, the Bulls called upon Sara Nevins to close out the final two innings. Nevins collected strikeouts in five of Kent State's final six outs, earning her fourth save of the season.

"I can't remember the last time we gave up an earned run," Eriksen said. "The pitching is keeping us in the game long enough to win, and if you keep the other team at zero, you've got a great opportunity."