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CLEARWATER, FLA. FEB. 23, 2014 – The Bulls used a balanced offensive performance and solid pitching to cruise past the College of Charleston, 6-2, in their final game of the NFCA Lead-Off Classic at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla.

With the win, USF earned a split in their final two games on Sunday to finish the tournament with a 4-1 record.

“I was impressed with the teams' gutsy performance this weekend,” head coach Ken Eriksen said. “The revised tournament schedule had us play five games in a 24-hour span against some pretty high level competition.”

Seven different Bulls recorded hits while Sara Nevins went the distance for her fifth straight win after starting the season 0-2.

USF got the scoring started in the second inning and never looked back. Kourtney Salvarola singled to start the frame and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Veronica Gajownik. Salvarola then stole third and scored to give USF a 1-0 lead when Carly Hansis' throw went into left field.

The offense continued to click in a two-run fourth inning. Stephanie Medina singled up the middle and Salvarola followed that with a bunt single back to the pitcher. That brought up Gajownik, who scorched a ball into left center for a two-run double that would prove to be the difference in the game.

The Cougars battled back to cut the deficit to one run in the fifth when Rebecca Mueller drove in a run with a triple to right center. She would score later in the inning on a single up the middle by Carly Corthell to make it 3-2.

The Bulls responded quickly, however, scoring three insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning to increase their lead to four.

Medina tripled to right center to score Ashli Goff and Dani Wayt and finished off the scoring by coming home on a wild pitch to give USF a 6-2 lead heading into the final two innings. The senior from Tampa went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI for the game.

Charleston never threatened in the final two frames as Nevins retired the Cougars in order in the seventh to end the game. The Pinellas Park, Fla., native struck out six and surrendered two runs in her second complete game this season. She was also named to the NFCA Lead-Off Classic All-Tournament team along with freshman Ta'coia Williams. The full all-tournament team is listed below.

The Bulls will resume their busy schedule with six more games next week at the USF Under Armour Invitational, starting with a showdown against No. 11 Stanford 2:15 p.m., Friday at the USF Softball Stadium. Purchase tickets HERE.

NFCA Lead-Off Classic All-Tournament Team

Most Valuable Player:  Jackie Bates – OF – Jr. -- Rutgers

Most Valuable Pitcher:  Morgan Lashley – P – Jr. – Hofstra

Valerie Sadowl – 2B/SS - Connecticut

Haley Hayden – IF – Fr. – Louisiana

Maggie Hawkins – IF/P – So. – Hofstra

Nicole Pihl – 1B – Fr. – DePaul

Ta'coia Williams – OF – Fr. – USF

Rachael Senatore – OF – Sr. – Hofstra

Becca Bigler – IF – Sr. – Hofstra

Morgan Maize – P/IF – So. – DePaul

Mary Connolly – P/1B – Jr. – DePaul

Sara Nevins – P – Sr. – USF

Hannah Penna – P – Sr. – DePaul

Jailyn Ford – P/1B – So. – James Madison