TAMPA, April 19, 2015 – The USF softball team's seventh-inning rally fell short as the Bulls dropped Sunday's rubber game to East Carolina, 7-3, at the USF Softball Stadium.

Kristen Wyckoff led the Bulls offensively with a run and two hits to extend her hitting streak to 11 games and freshman shortstop Cassidy Boyle also had a solid day at the plate with two singles. Lee Ann Spivey added to her team-leading RBI total with a two-run double in the seventh inning to move into a tie for seventh on the USF single-season RBIs list with 48.

The Bulls (33-15, 4-6 The American) had a great chance to open the scoring in the bottom of the third inning after loading the bases with no outs but were unable to push a run across after a fielder's choice, a fly out and a strikeout ended the threat.

USF finally broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth after loading the bases again thanks to three walks by Pirates' starter Lydia Ritchie. ECU third baseman Karlie Smith couldn't handle a groundball off the bat of Wyckoff, allowing Lauren Evans to score and put the Bulls up 1-0.

The lead was short-lived, however, as the Pirates (13-35, 5-10 The American) responded with a big fifth inning for the second straight game, scoring four runs on four hits to take a 4-1 lead. Kacie Oshiro drove in her third run of the afternoon in the top of the sixth to give ECU a four-run advantage and the Pirates added two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh.

Back-to-back singles by Wyckoff and Astin Donovan started the rally for the Bulls in the bottom of the seventh before Spivey drove in her 47^th and 48^th runs of the season with a one-out double to center field to cut the lead to four. Unfortunately, that would be all that USF could muster as Spivey was left stranded at second to end the game.

“The way we play ball, we have to be able to play flawless. We have to get great pitching, we can't give the other team freebies, that's the big deal right now,” head coach Ken Eriksen said.

Karla Claudio got her fifth start of the season in the circle and fell to 8-3 on the year after giving up four runs in five innings pitched.

The Bulls will have two days off before practice on Wednesday as they prepare to finish their regular-season home slate next weekend when they host Memphis on Saturday and Sunday.

“You try not to beat yourself up, be your own best friend right now and get the batteries recharged,” Eriksen said after the game.

Fans are encouraged to bring their dogs to Saturday's doubleheader for Bark with the Bulls and Sunday's game will be Senior Day. Get your 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 14^th season with 40 plus wins under head coach Ken Eriksen.

- #GoBulls –