FEB. 6, 2014, TAMPA - Erica Nunn pitched five shutout innings and recorded her first career home run to help the Bulls (1-1) defeat Bethune-Cookman in the second half of Thursday's season-opening doubleheader at the USF Softball Stadium.

No. 23 USF was able to put its game one loss to No. 3 Florida behind them and rebound for its first win of the 2014 season by defeating the Wildcats, 9-0, in a run-rule shortened five inning game.

“I thought we probably looked the best we have in years and years opening up a season on the offensive side of the plate,” head coach Ken Eriksen said.

Senior first baseman Stephanie Medina got things started with a bunt single to score Kourtney Salvarola in the first inning and Nunn posted six strikeouts in five shutout innings to pick up her first win of the season.

After neither team was able to score in the second or third innings, the Bulls busted things open with a four-run fourth inning.

Nunn helped her own cause by starting the inning off with a solo home run to left field and Ashli Goff lined a single into center to score two more to make it 4-0 Bulls. Goff would end up scoring on a throwing error by Bethune-Cookman's catcher to complete the scoring in the inning.

The fifth inning brought more of the same for USF as they loaded the bases after walks by Kassandra Moeller and D'Anna Devine and a single by Kristen Wyckoff.  That set the stage for Salvarola, who ended the game with a grand slam that easily cleared the wall in left center. It was Salvarola's first home run of the year after leading the team with 13 last season.

“The game against Florida actually showed us a lot of positives that we could bring into Bethune-Cookman, so we just took that and tried to capitalize on the positives from that game and bring them into this one,” Salvarola stated.

The Bulls continue play in the USF-Wilson DeMarini Tournament tomorrow night when they host Wisconsin at 6 p.m.

Stay updated on the Bulls throughout the season by following the team on social media (Twitter: @USFSoftball | Facebook).