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Box Score 2 TAMPA, April 6, 2016 – Head coach Ken Eriksen earned his 850th career win as the USF softball head coach and the Bulls routed the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in a doubleheader Wednesday night.
Eriksen's milestone win came in a 5-0 victory in game one of the doubleheader. Win 851 followed shortly thereafter as the Bulls routed the Wildcats 11-0 in a five-inning run-rule victory.
In game one, USF struck for a run in the top of the first inning on a Mo Santos sacrifice fly. Kristen Wyckoff got the inning started with a walk and stole two bases to put a runner in scoring position. Santos launched a pitch deep to center field, allowing the speedy Wyckoff to score from third and give the Bulls the lead.
The Bulls broke open the game in the bottom of the third, plating four runs. Astin Donovan led off by reaching on an error and Wyckoff moved her to second with an infield single. A sacrifice bunt from Juli Weber moved the runner to second and third and a passed ball allowed Donovan to score.
Wyckoff scored for the second time in the game on a Santos RBI single. With two outs after a fielder's choice from Spivey, erasing Santos, Erica Nunn doubled to plate Spivey, and Mia Fung followed with her 20th extra-base hit of the year to score Nunn and make it 5-0 after three complete.
The Bulls would be held scoreless for the final three innings, but the five-run lead would be enough to hold on for the win.
Nunn picked up her 17th win of the season, giving up just two hits in her sixth complete game of the year. She struck out eight batters, walking none, and faced just three batters over the minimum.
USF carried the hot bats into the second game, plating five runs in an explosive first inning that saw all nine batters come to the plate.
The Bulls loaded the bases on two walks and a single. A bases loaded walk issued to Fung gave the Bulls a 1-0 lead. A sacrifice fly from Kassie Moeller made it 2-0 with two outs.
Two outs on the board wouldn't derail the Bulls as a double from Lindsey Devitt and a single from Cassidy Boyle would plate three more runs and give USF a 5-0 lead after the first inning.
The scoring continued into the second inning as it started much the same way as the first with a walk and a single. Wyckoff and Weber pulled off a double steal, allowing Wyckoff to score.
Lauren Evans drew a walk and Sam Worrell doubled, plating Weber and moving the runners into scoring position with no outs. Fung walked to load the bases and it looked as if the inning would end after two quick outs.
Like the first inning, Boyle singled with two outs, scoring Evans. A fielding error by the Wildcats first baseman allowed Astin Donovan to reach and two runs to score making it 10-0 at the end of two innings.
The Bulls plated one run in the third on a double steal, allowing Amber Donovan to score after two singles and a wild pitch moved her around the base paths.
Susan Wysocki earned win number 10 of the season, throwing 3.2 innings of two hit ball.
USF is back in action for a three game series with conference rival UConn, April 8-10. Saturday's game will be Military Appreciation Day with first pitch set for 4 p.m.
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 –
