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TAMPA, MARCH 19, 2014 – Another clutch performance from a Bulls' newcomer propelled the USF softball team to a 3-2 win over Central Connecticut State on Wednesday night.
Juli Weber (Hegins, Pa.) singled in fellow freshman Kristen Wyckoff (Plant City) for the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh for the Bulls' third walk-off win this season.
The Bulls also got a boost offensively from Lee Ann Spivey (Palm Coast) and Kourtney Salvarola (Arnold, Md.), who both homered to center field in the game.
Neither team was able to get much going offensively against each other's best pitcher. Sara Nevins (Pinellas Park) continued her dominance, retiring CCSU's first nine batters via strikeout.
USF (26-8) finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth thanks to Spivey's line drive home run over the center field fence to make it 1-0.
The Blue Devils (9-6) responded in the sixth with an RBI bloop single by Eileen Purcell that scored Kat Malcom, who led off the inning with a triple to right center.
Fans didn't have to wait long for the Bulls to retake the lead as Salvarola hit her conference-leading 10th homer this season to put USF back on top heading into the final frame. USF's senior shortstop is now only one home run away from tying Holly Groves for the program's all-time lead with 33.
Hannah Cooper quickly evened things back up in the top of the seventh with a solo blast to left field off of Erica Nunn, who was in to pitch in relief. Nevins re-entered the game with one out in the seventh to record the final two outs and finished the contest with 10 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings to pick up her 15th win of the year. It was the seventh time this season that Nevins has registered double-digit strikeouts and third time in as many appearances.
Monica Santos (Tampa) got things started in the bottom of the seventh with a one-out walk and was pinch run for by Wyckoff. D'Anna Devine (Morrisville, Pa.) kept the inning going with an infield single to bring up Weber for the game-winning at-bat. With a 1-1 count, Weber hit a hard ground ball through the right side that allowed Wyckoff to score from second and send the Bulls' dugout onto the field to celebrate.
With the win, USF has won 10 of its last 11 games and enters conference play on a three-game winning streak.
“Going into the next game I'm feeling like we're at least progressing,” head coach Ken Eriksen said. “I'm looking forward to getting on the practice field tomorrow to prepare for Saturday's contest.”
The Bulls open American Athletic Conference play on Saturday with a doubleheader against UConn at the USF Softball Stadium.
“The one thing about UConn is that they know us, so it presents a challenge of 'can you diversify when you have to?' and 'can you execute and show something different in certain situations?'” Eriksen said.
First pitch against the Huskies on Saturday is set for 1 p.m. and the final game of the series is slated to begin on Sunday at 11 a.m.
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