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FORT MYERS, Fla., April 8, 2015 – Seven starters had a hit and the pitching staff combined to throw a four-hit shutout as the Bulls cruised to a 6-0 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday night at the FGCU Softball Complex in Fort Myers.
It was the second shutout of the year for the Bulls over the Eagles (20-23, 3-9 Atlantic Sun) after posting an 11-0 victory back on Feb. 15.
Susan Wysocki got the start for USF (32-12, 3-4 The American) and was superb on the night, scattering three hits in four innings of work to improve to 8-1 on the year.
“To get a win on the road this time of year, I thought it was really good,” head coach Ken Eriksen said. “I think it's real important that they were able to be comfortable being uncomfortable today.”
Lee Ann Spivey got the Bulls on the board first with her ninth home run of the season, a no doubter that easily cleared the center-field fence, to make it 1-0 in the top of the second. The solo blast moved Spivey into a tie for sixth with JoJo Medina and current assistant coach Monica Triner on the USF career-home runs list with 23. It was also her 44th RBI this season, moving her into a tie for 10th on the USF single-season list.
USF added to its lead in the fourth when Juli Weber came around to score on a passed ball after leading off the inning with an infield single. Weber finished the game with two hits, a run and an RBI.
Three hits in the top of the fifth helped the Bulls increase their lead to 4-0. Veronica Gajownik led off the frame with a single and scored on an RBI triple by Kristen Wyckoff. One batter later, Weber singled through the right side to score Wyckoff and increase the lead to four.
The Bulls capped off the scoring in the seventh inning thanks to an errant throw to home by FGCU's second baseman that allowed Astin Donovan and D'Anna Devine to score. Both Donovan and Devine reached on infield singles to start the inning.
Eriksen was pleased to see the production throughout the lineup as six different players scored runs for the Bulls in the game.
“That's us, we don't have any superstars. We've got to be able to disperse the ball … we're that type of team and if we play that way I think we'll be alright.”
Erica Nunn and Karla Claudio combined to pitch the final three innings, allowing only one hit to shut the door, and Wyckoff extended her hit streak to seven games with two hits, including her conference leading fifth triple of the season to give the Bulls their 32nd win this season.
With the victory, USF also improved to 29-8 in non-conference games and 21-2 in weekday games this year.
The Bulls will have a week off before wrapping up non-conference play with a rematch against No. 3 Florida on Wednesday, April 15 at 6:05 p.m. in Gainesville.
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 –
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