|
Like USF Softball on Facebook
Follow @USFSoftball on Twitter
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, FEB. 8, 2015 – Head coach Ken Eriksen saw a lot of growth out of his young Bulls, who took a two-run lead into the seventh inning and nearly knocked off the defending national champions Sunday night.
Taylore Fuller hit a game-tying, two-run homer during No. 1 Florida's eight-run seventh and the Gators escaped USF Softball Stadium with a 10-5 win in the USF Softball Classic finale. Florida (5-0) hadn't given up five runs in a game since a 5-4 loss to Missouri on April 27, 2014.
“We've made some pretty good strides,” said Eriksen, who used only three seniors in the lineup. “If you asked me last Monday what I would have thought about our team right now I don't know. Right now I can tell you they're fighting. You saw that even in the last inning, they fight and they're pretty tough.”
Senior Veronica Gajownik went 2-for-2 and plated a pair of runs in USF's four-run third inning. USF (3-2) also got an outstanding effort from right-hander Karla Claudio, who gave up two earned runs on two hits in four innings of relief.
“She's really got her alignment down and her mechanics are down,” Eriksen said. “To come out there and throw (95) pitches in a short stint tonight was tough.”
In a battle between two NCAA tournament teams from last season, Florida struck first with an RBI sacrifice fly by Fuller in the top of the third inning before USF seized control with four runs in the bottom half of the frame.
Leadoff hitter Aston Donovan (Guilford, Conn.) walked and stole second before Kristen Wyckoff (Plant City, Fla.) put runners on the corners with a one-out single to center field. Juli Weber's walk loaded the bases and Lauren Evans (Land O' Lakes, Fla.) tied the score at 1-1 with another walk.
Aleshia Ocasio replaced Gators starter Delanie Gourley and Florida's second error of the inning resulted in the go-ahead run for the Bulls. Gajownik (Winter Park, Fla.) extended the lead to 4-1 by lacing a two-run single to center field with two outs.
“Big-time players do big-time things in big-time situations. I thought she played extremely well,” Eriksen said.
Florida cut its deficit to 4-2 in the fourth inning with a leadoff homer by Taylor Schwarz but that's all the Gators got the rest of the way against Claudio, who exited with a runner on first in the seventh. Florida scored all eight of its runs in the final inning before recording an out.
Lee Ann Spivey (Palm Coast, Fla.) capped off the scoring for USF with an RBI double to center field in the bottom of the seventh. Spivey went 6-for-16 with six RBIs during opening weekend and the Bulls got five hits apiece from Gajownik, Wyckoff and D'Anna Devine (Morrisville, Pa.).
“I like what I see and I'll like to see how it's going to mature over the next two weekends because we've got some pretty good competition coming in,” Eriksen said.
Next up for the Bulls is the USF Presidents Day Weekend Tournament back at USF Softball Stadium. USF faces St. John's on Friday, Feb. 13 at 3:45 p.m. and concludes the first day of action with a test against Detroit at 8:15 p.m. The Bulls take on No. 13 Tennessee on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 3:45 p.m., followed by a game against Fordham at 8:15 p.m. USF concludes the weekend with a matchup against FGCU on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2:30 p.m. Purchase tickets HERE.
Be sure to follow USF softball on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. The USF softball program has been one of the most successful on campus, making 12 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women's College World Series in 2012. The Bulls made their third consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament last season and posted their 14th season with 40 plus wins under head coach Ken Eriksen.
- #GoBulls –
|
