CLEARWATER, FLA., MARCH 14, 2015 – The USF softball team split its Saturday doubleheader at the Michele Smith Spring Break Tournament in Clearwater.
The Bulls (24-8) scored early and often in an 11-0 rout of Green Bay in game one before falling to Towson, 3-0, in the finale.
GAME 1: USF 11, Green Bay 0 (5 Inn.)
The Bulls wasted no time getting their offense going against Green Bay (3-8), scoring five runs in the first inning on their way to picking up their 16th consecutive victory.
USF also got a dominant performance in the circle from redshirt freshman Susan Wysocki in the 11-0 win. The right-hander struck out five in a complete-game shutout to improve to 5-0 on the year.
Kristen Wyckoff extended her hit streak to 11 games with a leadoff bunt single and along with D'Anna Devine, came around to score later in the inning on an error by the Green Bay shortstop.
Veronica Gajownik gave the Bulls a five-run cushion with a three-run homer to left-center field. It was her first home run of the season and second of her career with the USF.
Monica Santos continued her hot streak with an RBI single in the second to make it 6-0, and the Bulls added four more runs in the third inning to increase the lead to 10. Amber Donovan recorded her first-career hit and RBI with a single, and Juli Weber followed with a bases-clearing double later in the inning.
Allie Patierno also posted her first RBI of the season with a double in the bottom of the fourth. The senior from Montville, N.J. set a new career-high with two hits in the game.
GAME 2: Towson 3, USF 0
The Bulls were unable to get their offense going in a 3-0 loss to Towson (10-3) that ended their 16-game winning streak on Saturday night.
The win streak was tied for the fifth longest in school history and started with a 5-2 win over Illinois back on Feb. 27.
Susan Wysocki and Karla Claudio were terrific in relief of starter Sam Greiner, tossing three scoreless innings to keep the Bulls in it.
USF had the leadoff runner on base four times but were unable to take advantage and were shutout for only the second time this season.
The Bulls also hit into two double plays to kill a couple of threats early in the game and left Juli Weber stranded on third base in the bottom of the sixth after she reached on a two-out triple.
Monica Santos doubled to lead off the seventh but Tigers' pitcher Missy McCormick retired the next three batters to close out the game.
Cassidy Boyle led USF at the plate, going two-for-three while tying a career high in hits. Kristen Wyckoff and Astin Donovan also had hits to extend their hit streaks to 12 and 11 games, respectively.
USF caps off play at the Michele Smith Spring Break Tournament tomorrow at 5 p.m. with a single game against Army at the USF Softball Stadium on Military Appreciation Day. 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 –
