Special to GoUSFBulls.com
By: Stephen Hanewinckel

TAMPA - After 19 games, 12 singles and a double, sophomore first baseman Stephanie Medina has found her home run swing.

Medina knocked a pair of three-run homers beyond the left-center field fence, driving the offense as the Bulls' bats overwhelmed Penn State in a 7-0 victory, kicking off the Under Armour Showcase at the USF Softball Stadium on Friday.

Medina jumped into a tie for the team-lead in homers, walking twice and hitting two bombs in a pair of at bats. Medina had help at the plate, as the Bulls (16-4 overall) combined for 12 hits. Senior outfielder Janine Richardson earned the only other RBI in the game, collecting three hits and driving home sophomore shortstop Kourtney Salvarola in the first.

Sophomore pitcher Sara Nevins continued to impress, gathering her team leading seventh win with eight strikeouts, allowing six hits with no walks in six innings pitched.

The Bulls jumped on the scoreboard quickly with a bases-loaded single in the first inning. A two-out rally began with back-to-back singles by Salvarola and junior designated player Kenshyra Jackson. A four pitch walk to first basemen Stephanie Medina set up Richardson's RBI single to right field.

USF added three in the third, as Salvarola and Jackson again reached base, this time scoring on Medina's first home run of the year

Medina struck again in the fourth. Sophomore outfielder Ashli Goff singled and Salvarola walked, putting two on again for Medina's second homer of the day. Medina's six RBI gives her 14 on the season.

Up 7-0, freshman pitcher Sam Greiner completed the shutout, earning her second save of the year.

Salvarola finished with a pair of hits and three runs scored, and Goff added two hit for the Bulls. Sophomore utility player Ilaura Reeves recorded her first hit of the season in a pinch-hit appearance.