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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, FEB. 28, 2014 – Ta'coia Williams and the Bulls made No. 14 Stanford pay for a big mistake in a fifth inning of a 3-2 USF Under Invitational win on Friday afternoon.
Williams' two-run single made the difference in USF's second victory over a ranked team this season and it capped off an impressive two-out rally for the Bulls (9-5).
USF headed to the bottom of the fifth trailing, 1-0, and got busy on the base paths with a leadoff walk by Monica Santos followed by a single up the middle by Veronica Gajownik. Runners remained on first and second with two outs as Ashli Goff hit a dribbler back to Stanford pitcher Madi Schreyer, who sailed the throw over first baseman Kayla Bonstrom, which allowed pinch runner Courtney Goff to head home for the tying score.
Williams doubled off the center field wall in her second at-bat and the freshman from West Palm Beach delivered again with a two-run single up the middle to give the Bulls the breathing room they needed.
Reliever Erica Nunn pitched USF out of a jam with runners on first and second in the sixth and the Bulls' left-hander handled the pressure in the seventh for her third save of the season.
Stanford started the frame with two singles and moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Sorenson before cutting its deficit to 3-2 with a sacrifice fly by Bonstrom. Nunn ended Stanford's comeback attempt by getting Bessie Noll to pop up to catcher Lee Ann Spivey.
Nunn's solid relief appearance backed up a solid start by Sara Nevins (6-2). The senior left-hander struck out six and gave up an earned run on four hits in 5 2/3 innings.
The Bulls continue their USF Under Armour Invational run 4:45 p.m. Friday against Central Arkansas back at USF Softball Stadium. Purchase tickets for the invitational HERE.
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