Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 TAMPA, March 11, 2016 – The USF softball team (16-9) started off the Under Armour Showcase with a sweep of USC-Upstate and New Mexico State. The Bulls topped the Spartans, 8-6, before posting a 5-4 walk-off win over the Aggies.
Sophomore Juli Weber and senior Lee Ann Spivey were dominant at the plate, Weber going 5-for-8 and Spivey going 3-for-6 with two home runs. Weber has now reached base safely in 21 games and had a hit in 17.
The Bulls continue play Saturday, March 12, in Clearwater, Fla., at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. USF will face South Dakota at 2 p.m. and Winthrop at 4:15 p.m. The Bulls return home Sunday, March 13, at 4 p.m. to face North Florida.
Game One: USF 8, USC-Upstate 6
Juli Weber and Kristen Wyckoff each went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs and Lee Ann Spivey drove in five to help lead USF to a 8-6 win over USC-Upstate Friday afternoon.
After falling behind, 4-1, the Bulls plated five runs in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead. The inning began with the nine-hole hitter Astin Donovan setting off a trend of five straight hits for the Bulls. With the bases loaded on three straight singles, Mia Fung drove in Donovan with an RBI single to right field. Lee Ann Spivey followed with a triple to clear the bases and put USF on top 5-4. Lauren Evans recorded her team-leading 18th RBI of the season with two outs on the board to plate Mo Santos and put USF ahead by two.
The Bulls extended the lead in the sixth after once again putting the top of the order on base. Spivey recorded a sacrifice fly to drive in Wyckoff and Erica Nunn singled to plate Weber and make it an 8-4 game.
The Spartans threatened in the seventh, plating two runs with two outs in an attempt at a comeback. Relief pitcher Nunn got a flyout to right field to strand the bases loaded and end the game, picking up her seventh win of the season.
After three scoreless innings, Spivey's fifth home run of the season and 29th of her career gave the Bulls a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning.
The Spartans would strike for four runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead. Ryan Rector led off with a solo home run and a bases-loaded walk brought in another. A two-RBI single with two outs plated the final two runs of the inning to give Upstate a 4-1 lead.
Cheyenne Eggens earned a no-decision in four innings of work. She scattered five hits and two runs, striking out three and walking just one. Nunn pitched the final 2.1 innings, giving up just one run on two hits and striking out a pair.
Game Two: USF 5, NMSU 4 (8 innings)
Lauren Evans hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning to give USF a 5-4 win over New Mexico State.
The Bulls went to extra innings for the first game this season, playing by international tiebreaker rules. With a runner already placed at second, the Aggies took a 4-2 lead on an RBI single by Emma Adams and an error at shortstop by Cassidy Boyle.
Wyckoff began at second for USF and came home on a Weber RBI double. A Mia Fung single placed runners at the corners and Weber came home on a Mo Santos RBI single up the middle to tie the game. Evans came up with a clutch RBI single, her team-leading 19th of the season, to win the game and make it eight straight for USF.
The scoring began in the third when the Aggies struck on an RBI single from Haley Nakamura.
USF responded immediately, tying the game in the bottom of the inning. Juli Weber singled and came home on a Mo Santos RBI double.
After another two scoreless innings, New Mexico State took the lead on an RBI single from Taylor Reedy. Once again, USF answered right back as Lee Ann Spivey hit her second home run of the day, bringing her season total to a team-leading six.
Susan Wysocki improved her record to 3-3 on the season, throwing 2.1 innings of relief and scattering three hits. Erica Nunn went 5.2 innings in a no decision, striking out six and giving up just two runs (one earned) on six hits.
Be sure to follow USF softball on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. The Bulls open the 2015 season on Friday, Feb. 12, at 2:15 p.m. against South Carolina at the USF Softball Stadium. Get your season tickets and mini plans HERE. 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.
- #GoBulls –
