|
Like USF Softball on Facebook
Follow @USFSoftball on Twitter
HOUSTON, TEXAS, APRIL 18, 2014 – The bats got going in a big way for the Bulls as they outslugged Houston and hung on for a 6-5 win in game one of Friday's doubleheader at the Cougar Softball Stadium.
USF (31-13, 5-5) posted runs in three of the first four innings and had four different players score a run in what turned out to be a wild back and forth game in Houston. It was just the second conference loss of the year for Houston (28-13, 11-2).
The Bulls' offense got hot early on with three hits and a run in the first. Stephanie Medina singled to center field to score Juli Weber (Hegins, Pa.) from third after she started the inning off with a double.
A bit of luck helped USF in the third as Houston shortstop Selena Hernandez committed an error with two outs and the bases loaded. Hernandez was unable to handle a hard hit ground ball by Lee Ann Spivey (Palm Coast, Fla.), allowing Kourtney Salvarola (Arnold, Md.) and Medina to score on the play and give the Bulls a 3-0 lead.
Hernandez quickly atoned for her mistake with a three-run homer to center field in the bottom of the third to tie the game. The home run brought the sophomore's RBI total to 34, which ranks second in the American Athletic Conference.
The Cougars didn't stop there, adding two more runs later in the inning. Diedre Outon hit a deep sacrifice fly to left center to score Tiffani McKnight and give Houston the lead. Haley Outon also scored on the play after an errant throw to third base by Weber made it 5-3 heading into the fourth frame.
Despite the big inning by Houston, the Bulls wasted no time responding as they retook the lead with a big inning of their own in the fourth.
Monica Santos (Tampa) got the inning started with a single and Weber moved her to second with her second hit of the game before Salvarola drove in a run with a double to left center. One batter later, Medina came up big again with a two-run double to put USF back on top, 6-5. The senior from Tampa led the Bulls at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run and three RBI for the game.
Three different pitchers saw action for the Bulls with Sara Nevins (Pinellas Park, Fla.) coming away with her conference-leading 19th win this season after throwing four scoreless innings to end the game.
First pitch for game two of Friday's doubleheader is set for 4:30 p.m. EST.
|
