By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, MARCH 4, 2016 – USF started its run at the Under Armour Invitational with a doubleheader split Friday afternoon at USF Softball Stadium.

Lee Ann Spivey's two-run homer highlighted a five-run third inning in USF's 5-0 victory over Purdue to begin the day. USF (8-9) took a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning before its three-game winning streak was snapped with an 8-2 loss to Texas State.

The Under Armour Invitational continues Saturday at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater. USF takes on College of Charleston at 2:45 p.m. followed by a test against Illinois at 5 p.m. The Bulls return to USF Softball Stadium on Sunday to host Central Michigan at 4 p.m. Purchase tickets at USFBullsTix.com.

Game 1: USF 5, Purdue 0

Lee Ann Spivey continued her pursuit of USF's career home run record and Erica Nunn pitched 6.1 scoreless innings to help the Bulls open the Under Armour Invitational with a victory.

“It put us off to a good start to the day against a good team,” head coach Ken Eriksen said.

Spivey's two-run homer capped off a five-run third inning for the Bulls that started with singles by Cassidy Boyle and Kristen Wyckoff.

Juli Weber (Hegins, Pa.) drove in USF's first run with a double and Astin Donovan (Guilford, Conn.) followed with an RBI single. Right after Donovan, Lauren Evans (Land O'Lakes, Fla.) ripped an RBI single up the middle to extend the lead to 3-0.

That set the stage for Spivey, who hammered a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left-center and into visitor's bullpen. Spivey now has 27 career home runs and needs 10 more to break USF's all-time record set by Kourtney Salvarola (2011-14).

“Hitting in fastpitch softball is not easy and Lee Ann is pretty good,” Eriksen said. “If she can get the barrel to the ball, the ball can a long way. She's so strong from her elbows to her fingertips.”

Nunn (4-4) followed up her complete game one-hitter against Kansas on Feb. 28 with another excellent outing. The senior left-hander struck out four and scattered four hits before exiting with two on in the seventh.

“Erica Nunn came out and gave us a great chance,” Eriksen said. “She kept them at zero and gave us an opportunity to score.”

Susan Wysocki (Cherry Hill, N.J.) secured the shutout by retiring two consecutive batters with six pitches. USF's pitching staff gave up just two runs while the Bulls' offense put up 21 runs during the three-game winning streak.

Game 2: Texas State 8, USF 2

Kenya Yancy gave USF a 1-0 lead in the second inning before the Bulls' three-game winning streak came to an end with a loss to Texas State.

After hitting a two-run home against Purdue, Lee Ann Spivey (Palm Coast, Fla.) continued to swing a hot bat with a leadoff single in the second inning. Spivey stole second and came around to score on a two-out RBI single by Yancy (Bradenton).  

USF kept an early lead thanks to a number of highlight-reel plays by Juli Weber. The junior from Hegins, Pa., made two diving catches in center field along with a leaping grab over the wall to save a home run in the fourth.

“Juli is just a human highlight reel out there,” Eriksen said. “It's like having Jim Edmonds or Torii Hunter out there in the outfield when you're watching Juli. She's the price of admission by herself.”

Cheyenne Eggens kept Texas State scoreless heading into the fifth inning, when the Bobcats put together a two-out rally. Facing a 3-2 count, Kelli Baker put Texas State ahead with a three-run homer beyond the glove of Yancy in right field.

Texas State (14-5) extended its lead to 4-1 with a leadoff homer by Kendall Wiley in the sixth inning and scored four runs in the seventh. The Bobcats have won three straight and started their hot streak with 9-5 victory over No. 24 Texas on Wednesday.

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.

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