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CLEARWATER, FLA. FEB. 23, 2014 – USF pitchers struggled to find the strike zone and the Bulls were unable to climb out of an early hole in a 7-1 loss to Hofstra at the NFCA Lead-Off Classic in Clearwater, Fla.

Control issues plagued the Bulls (7-5) all game as they walked eight batters and hit three others, giving the Pride too many free base runners. Hofstra (3-1) took advantage with two big innings, scoring three runs apiece in the first and third to take a 6-0 lead.

For the second straight game the Bulls fell behind in the first inning, giving up three runs, all with two outs. Starting pitcher Erica Nunn struggled to find the zone as the first run scored on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded. The Pride's next batter, Tori Rocha extended the lead to three on a two-run single to center field before USF was able to get out of the inning.

The Pride added three more runs in the third after more control problems by the Bulls pitching staff. Nunn was replaced by Sam Greiner after back-to-back walks to start the inning. After another walk and two singles the Pride increased their lead to six heading into the fourth.

The Bulls were finally able to get on the board in the fifth thanks to an RBI groundout by Juli Weber after two infield singles by D'Anna Devine and Ashli Goff got the inning started. Unfortunately, USF would strand runners on second and third to end the frame.

USF had another chance to cut into the lead in the sixth but were unable to come up with a clutch hit, leaving the bases loaded to end the inning. The Bulls were unable the come up with the big hit that they had been getting all tournament, leaving 10 runners on base for the game.

The loss snapped USF's four-game winning streak and undefeated record for the tournament. Nunn was stuck with the loss and fell to 2-3 on the year.

The Bulls finish up the weekend against the College of Charleston at 11:30 a.m., at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.