TAMPA (March 9, 2017) – The USF softball team found an offensive spark Sunday, outscoring its opponents 20-3 on the day, including a run-rule victory.
USF started the day with an 11-1, five-inning victory over Army, before polishing off Central Connecticut State, 9-2 in the nightcap. Hannah Parker and Susan Wysocki each picked up wins, holding their opponents to 3 and 2 hits, respectively.
GAME ONE: USF 11, ARMY 1 (5 inn.)
A nine-run third inning would propel the Bulls to an 11-1 run-rule victory over Army West Point Sunday afternoon.
USF sent eight players to the plate, scoring five runs before an out was recorded. In total, the Bulls sent 14 to the plate and recorded six hits in the third inning.
The Bulls jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Kassie Moeller was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a passed ball. Moeller would move to third on an illegal pitch, coming home on a sacrifice fly from Lauren Evans.
With Keen at third base, Brooke Hartman singled up the middle, plating the second run of the inning and giving USF a 2-0 lead.
Army would plate a run in the top of the fifth using an RBI single to end the shutout bid.
For the game, the Bulls would record nine hits, while holding the Black Knights to just four. Every player in the starting lineup recorded at least one run, with Keen and Evans each recording a pair.
Hartman led the way, going 2-for-2 with a run and three RBI on the day. Evans would finish 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and two RBI.
GAME TWO: USF 9, CCSU 2
The offense kept clicking on all cylinders as the Bulls posted a 9-2 victory over CCSU to sweep the doubleheader.
Bethaney Keen started the game off strong, hitting a two-out solo home run, her third of the season, to give USF the 1-0 lead after the first inning.
The Blue Devils responded with a solo home run of their own to tie the game, but USF would have an answer in the home half of the second.
With two outs, Morgan Gross doubled to deep center field and came home on a AnaMarie Bruni RBI single to make it a 2-1 game after two.
CCSU would have an answer, using an RBI single to tie the game in the third.
USF would explode for five runs in the fourth, batting around and using five hits and a pair of defensive miscues to break the tie.
After a walk and a fly ball, the Bulls would rattle off five straight hits. Kassie Moeller singles to score Lauren Evans and moved to second on a throwing error. Sam Worrell would double, plating Moeller and making it a 4-2 game.
Gross singled to put runners on the corners and Bruni would plate Worrell on an RBI single of her own. Astin Donovan finished off the hitting with an RBI single, plating Gross and making it a 7-2 game after four.
Keen would plate two more runs in the sixth inning, driving in Kelsey Lay and Bruni with an RBI single.
The Bulls posted 12 hits with Bruni leading the way with a 3-for-3 day at the plate, including a pair of runs and two RBI.
Next Up
The Bulls will face Jacksonville and Yale in a midweek doubleheader Wednesday, March 8, at 5:30 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 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. USF returns 14 players from the 2016 squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament, including, first-team all-conference selection Lauren Evans, and second-team selections Astin Donovan and Kristen Wyckoff.
- #GoBulls –
