|
TAMPA, MARCH 3, 2015 – Sam Greiner nearly threw a no-hitter and the Bulls (11-7) used a six-run third inning to blow by Maine (4-6) for a 7-0 win at the USF Softball Stadium on Tuesday night.
Greiner had her no-hit bid broken up in the sixth after giving up a single to Maine's leadoff hitter Rachel Carlson. The senior from Sparta, N.J., still finished the game with four strikeouts and improved to 4-1 on the season.
“I figured out what their philosophy was as hitters and I kind of worked around that, but my defense played great behind me. They're always great and they give me the confidence to throw well and attack the batters because I know they're going to make outs behind me,” Greiner said.
Lee Ann Spivey had another monster day at the plate, blasting a home run and tying her career high with four RBIs for the second time this season.
After two scoreless innings to start the game, USF busted the game open with six runs in the bottom of the third.
A trio of freshmen got things going as Mia Fung started the frame off with a leadoff single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cassidy Boyle. Fung (Tampa, Fla.) scored one batter later on a double to left center by Astin Donovan to break the scoreless tie.
Later in the inning, D'Anna Devine (Morrisville, Pa.) knocked in another run with a single to center to score Donovan (Guilford, Conn.), and another freshman chipped in with an RBI as Lauren Evans (Land O' Lakes, Fla.) singled to plate a run one batter later. That brought Spivey up with two runners on and she launched a 1-0 pitch off the batter's eye in center field for her team-leading fourth homer of the year to give USF a commanding 6-0 lead.
Spivey (Palm Coast, Fla.) added her fourth RBI of the game and 24th of the season with a single in the fifth to make it 7-0.
In all, four different Bulls recorded RBIs and six different players had hits as USF won their third straight game.
“It's a pretty balanced attack right now, they're working really hard at it, but I don't think we're on all cylinders whatsoever,” head coach Ken Eriksen said. “It's always an evolutionary process right now with a young team and you got to like the leadership from Greiner and you got to like the leadership from Spivey at the plate, so a lot of our veterans are making it very comfortable for our young kids to produce.”
Karla Claudio (San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico) came in to relieve Greiner in the sixth and pitched two hitless innings while striking out four Black Bear batters.
USF is back in action at 6 p.m. Wednesday night as they host ACC foe Boston College at the USF Softball Stadium. 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 –
|
