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TAMPA, MARCH 14, 2014 – USF ace Sara Nevins threw her fifth career no-hitter to lead the Bulls past Massachusetts, 3-0, on Friday evening at the USF Softball Stadium.
The two-time All-American only allowed two runners to reach base and struck out a season-high 12 batters while posting her fifth shutout of the season.
“It felt really good and I couldn't have done it without my teammates scoring first and helping me out on defense,” Nevins said after the game.
Nevins (Pinellas Park) had come close to throwing a no-hitter a couple times earlier this season and also combined with Erica Nunn to throw one against Illinois State on Feb. 21. Coming into the game Nevins had recorded four starts where she held the opponent to only one hit. With the win in she picked up her 13th win of the year, which ranks first in the American Athletic Conference.
The last no-hitter thrown by Nevins was on April 6 of last season when USF defeated Pittsburgh on the road. The senior lefty also threw three no-hitters as a sophomore, including a perfect game against Toledo.
“Sara was phenomenal,” head coach Ken Eriksen said. “She was in a groove. She's been in a groove for the last week.”
Eriksen was also quick to give praise to his sophomore catcher Lee Ann Spivey, who called pitches for the entire game.
“I think that's the first time that she's (Nevins) thrown a no-hitter with the catcher completely calling the game, so I'm going to give a lot of credit to Lee Ann as well.”
Leading the Bulls (23-8) at the plate was junior Nicollette Levine (Lithia), who recorded two RBI and a double in the game.
Levine got the Bulls on the board first in the second inning with a sacrifice bunt that scored Ta'coia Williams (West Palm Beach) from third. She also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth to score Kourtney Salvarola (Arnold, Md.), who led off the inning with a walk.
Senior Ashli Goff (Tampa) drove in the only other run for USF with a single to left center in the fourth to score her sister Courtney Goff (Tampa) from second.
Freshman speedster Kristen Wyckoff (Plant City) also had a good day at the plate for the Bulls, going 2-for-2 to increase her batting average to .423 on the year.
The Bulls will take on the Dutch National Team in an exhibition game tomorrow evening in Clearwater at 5 p.m. before hosting Wagner and Marist back at the USF Softball Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
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