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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TALLAHASSEE, MAY 17, 2014 – USF will look to keep its season alive Saturday night after falling to No. 3 FSU, 2-0, in an 11-inning afternoon marathon at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional.
The Bulls (42-16) will face the winner of the South Carolina-Fordham elimination game at approximately 6:45 p.m. back at Seminole Softball Complex. Fans can watch the action live on ESPN3.
The winner of the Saturday night's elimination game will have to defeat FSU twice in Sunday's championship round.
“We're going to play ball just like we've played ball all year,” head coach Ken Eriksen said. “We've played three games in one day already this year, which to me was crazy. It was incredible what our team did and we actually knocked off Louisiana-Lafayette at the end of the day.”
The Seminoles (52-6) managed just three hits against ace Sara Nevins through 10 innings and finally broke through in the 11th inning of the 3-hour, 44-minute matchup.
Sophomore Erica Nunn (Apex, N.C.) faced one batter in the 11th and Nevins re-entered with runners on first and second with no outs. Nevins got Victoria East to pop up to second on the first pitch and the bases were loaded with two outs when Alex Kossoff hit a two-run single to left-center field.
“I thought what you saw today was a culmination of two very good programs with historical tradition in this state toe it up with each other,” Eriksen said. “There were great defensive plays on both ends, phenomenal situational pitching on both ends, and at some point,at the end of the day, it's just the name of the game. Somebody is going to end up with another run than the other team.”
Nevins (28-9) finished with 11 strikeouts and showed why she's an All-American by staying focused despite being called for 13 illegal pitches.
“I didn't really think about anything, I just kept throwing it like I know how to throw and I just let the defense and offense give it a go,” The American Pitcher of the Year said.
“I have one of the most phenomenal, young ladies that ever pitched at the University of South Florida, or even in Division I softball, to go out and go through some things,” Eriksen said. “… We're fortunate to have somebody that we call RoboCop sometimes when it comes to emotional states in the circle.”
USF had a prime opportunity to score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 10th inning with a runner on third and no outs. Courtney Goff (Tampa) led off with a single and made it all the way to third on a throwing error. Kristen Wyckoff (Plant City, Fla.) grounded out to first and runners were on the corners after American Rookie of the Year Juli Weber (Hegins, Pa.) was intentionally walked.
A failed hit-and-run try by the Bulls resulted in the second out and the Seminoles extended the game by getting Ashli Goff (Tampa) to ground out.
FSU starter Lacey Waldrop (35-4) allowed nine hits, two walks and struck out seven in a complete game performance.
“I can't say enough of Lacey Waldrop's ability in crucial situations to make phenomenal, great pitches,” Eriksen said.
Eriksen promised USF will be ready to go Saturday night and said the team's depth will come in handy while the Bulls look to stay alive in their third consecutive NCAA appearance.
“This team has been through a lot of things. They've meshed it together when they had to. We've used a lot of players this year when you look at the statistics,” Eriksen said. “So we're going to do what we've got to do and I'll consult with (Nevins) and see if she's got anything left in her tonight in situational stuff. But other than that we're just going to play ball.”
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