TAMPA, MARCH 6, 2015 – The Bulls (15-7) swept Wisconsin and Portland State in Friday's doubleheader at the USF Under Armour Showcase to extend their season long win streak to seven games.
USF came from behind for a 3-1 win over Big Ten foe Wisconsin in the first game of the doubleheader and used two big innings to cruise past Portland State, 7-1, in game two at the USF Softball Stadium.
“I think if you take a look at the reason that we came back in the Wisconsin game and the reason that we put so many runs on the board against Portland State was execution. Sacrifice bunts, slap and runs, hit and runs, those type of things,” head coach Ken Eriksen said.
Game 1: USF 3, Wisconsin 1
Red-hot USF extended its winning streak to six by holding off Wisconsin, 3-1, in the first of two games Friday at the Under Armour Showcase.
USF got a go-ahead triple from Lee Ann Spivey in the third inning before improving to 3-1 all-time against Wisconsin (7-11). Junior left-hander Erica Nunn (Apex, N.C.) got the win and gave the Bulls another quality start by striking out four and scattering five hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Wisconsin took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and the Bulls responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the second inning. Astin Donovan (Guilford, Conn.) hit a two-out infield single with runners on first and second before Veronica Gajownik (Winter Park, Fla.) jetted home on a throwing error.
The Bulls took a 2-1 lead in the third inning while posting their league-leading eighth triple of the season. D'Anna Devine (Morrisville, Pa.) led off with a single and Spivey drove her in with a stand-up triple off the wall in right field. Spivey, a junior from Palm Coast, Fla., leads the team with 12 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs this season.
USF capitalized on another Wisconsin mistake by tacking on an insurance run in the sixth inning. Freshman Lauren Evans (Land O' Lakes, Fla.) hit a two-out double and pinch runner Kenya Yancy (Bradenton, Fla.) headed home one batter later on a fielding error.
Senior right-hander Karla Claudio gave up a hit and struck out a pair of batters in 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn her third save of the season.
- By Tom Zebold (USF Senior Writer)
Game 2: USF 7, Portland State 1
An inside the park home run by Astin Donovan and another homer by Monica Santos highlighted the victory over the Vikings (5-12).
USF jumped out to a quick lead after an RBI single by Juli Weber (Hegins, Pa.) in the bottom of the first inning to score Kristen Wyckoff.
Starting pitcher Susan Wysocki (Cherry Hill, N.J.) cruised through the first four innings, holding Portland State scoreless, but ran into some trouble in the fifth and was replaced by Erica Nunn after a Lexi Goranson leadoff single. Goranson would come around to tie the game at one on a single by pinch hitter Lauran Bliss later in the inning.
The Bulls wasted little time retaking the lead as they exploded for three runs in the bottom of the fifth, powered by a pair of home runs.
Santos led off the frame with a solo shot to right center for her first homer of the year and eighth of her career. The Tampa native is now 5-for-5 with a run and an RBI in her last two games played.
Mia Fung singled in the Bulls' next at-bat and came around to score on an inside the park home run by Donovan one batter later. It was the first-career homer for Donovan and gave USF a comfortable three-run lead heading into the final two innings.
The offense stayed hot in the sixth, scoring three more runs to put the game completely out of reach. Fung (Tampa, Fla.) put down a perfect bunt for an RBI single to plate Lauren Evans from third base to start the scoring in the inning. Donovan followed with an RBI fielder's choice to set a new career high for RBIs in a single game with three.
“I was seeing the ball really well, something I've been struggling with recently, and this is just a confidence booster that I think I needed,” Donovan said.
Wyckoff (Plant City, Fla.) continued the inning with her third hit of the game, tying a career high, to drive in her 15th run of the season and cap off the scoring. She was one of four Bulls with multiple hits in the game. USF also had five players drive in runs as the team improved to 10-2 when scoring five or more runs this season.
“I've really been impressed with this year's production from all classes, whether it's seniors, juniors, sophomores or freshmen, they're all contributing,” Eriksen said.
Karla Claudio (San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico) shutdown the Vikings in the final two innings while recording four strikeouts to earn her conference-leading fourth save of the year and third in the past four games.
The Bulls continue play in the Under Armour Showcase tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader in Clearwater against Toledo and Mercer. First pitch between the Bulls and Rockets is set for 1:45 p.m. at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. 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 –
