TAMPA (March 10, 2018) –  Three Bulls went for extra bases against Iona including Junior Mia Fung who hit a homerun to help USF to the 9-1 victory. The Bulls showed no signs of slowing down as they defeated Loyola-Chicago 6-3 to close out the Under Armour Showcase in Clearwater, Fla.  

USF 9, Iona 1 (5 inn.)
The Gaels (6-6) jumped ahead early with an RBI single in the top of the second inning, but USF (16-12) responded with the same by senior Lauren Evans (Land O' Lakes, Fla.) sending home Fung (Tampa). USF surged ahead in the three innings that followed with nine more runs to end the game with a walk-off in the fifth inning.

Junior Samantha Worrell (Oviedo, Fla.) hit a 2-RBI double in the third frame and made it home on an error to give USF a 4-1 lead. The Bulls' contagious hitting spread even more in the fourth inning when Evans led off with a single, and junior Lindsey Devitt batted in two more with a triple to left field, her first of the season. Fung hit the same spot as Devitt for two RBI but made it over the fence for her third home run of the weekend.

Sophomore AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Penn.) showcased her speed and excellent base-running as she pulled off two straight steals and took advantage of an error by the catcher scoring the ninth and final run in the fifth inning.

Junior Nicole Doyle (Aurora, Ohio) earned her first win at USF against Iona with four strikeouts in four innings. Freshman Miriam Schmoll (Sarasota, Fla.) earned her first collegiate strikeout as a relief pitcher against the Gaels.

USF 6, Loyola-Chicago 3
USF finished a game in regulation for the first time in six competitions on Saturday night. A stunning sunset and stormy skies set the stage for USF to close out a 6-3 win over the Ramblers (8-9). The teams were scoreless through two full innings, but Loyola-Chicago scored in the top of the third.

Senior Amber Atkinson (Citrus, Fla.) drove in two runs in the bottom of the third with a triple to right center, and USF continued its scoring streak with three runs on three hits in the fourth frame. Worrell and Evans each slammed a single to the field to get on base, and senior Astin Donovan (Guilford, Conn.) was hit by a pitch to reach first. Devitt powered through another at-bat with an RBI double, and Donovan's speed got her home on a wild pitch to end the game.  

The Bulls lead, 5-1, heading into the sixth inning where the Ramblers tacked on two more runs. Devitt had a near-perfect day at the plate going 4-for-5 over two games. She RBI singled to solidify USF's 6-3 win, and junior Cheyenne Eggens (Vienna, Ohio) earned a save as she held the Ramblers in the seventh with two straight strikeouts.   

Senior JoJo McGill earned her fourth win of the season over the Ramblers.

Quotable
Assistant Jessica Moore on the pitching staff…
"I think they are just having better bullpens at practice, a little bit more focused and are committing better to each pitch that they are throwing. In the past we have lost a few pitches here-and-there which have resulted in walks or maybe a base hit, and we have cleaned that up so I'm really proud of them for commanding a little bit better."

On pitchers setting the tone…
"We are pounding the zone a little bit better, and I think it's giving our defense more confidence too. I think pitchers set the tone and they've been doing a pretty good job. Defense has been picking them up with some really good plays, and of course the bats have been pretty hot as well."

On Miriam Scholl's first career strikeout, and Doyle's first win at USF…
"It was awesome to get that done. She has been working really hard so to see some of these guys be rewarded, that's what it's all about. I think that's how you continue to build. You have to have something to keep you going."

Key Stat
9 – USF has won nine straight games
Notable

• Four different pitchers earned wins for USF this weekend
• USF's win over the Ramblers was the first time in six games it won in regulation
• Lauren Evans went 4-for-8 on the day with one RBI
• Lindsey Devitt went 4-for-5 with four RBI
• Mia Fung hit her third home run of the weekend, fourth of the season against the Gaels
• USF has scored at least one home run in six of the last seven games, and 22 total this season
• Lindsey Devitt has had a team-leading nine multi-hit games and seven multiple-RBI games

Up Next 
USF will host the Maine Black Bears at home on Wednesday at 5 p.m., before continuing the USF Series over the weekend.  

Fans can purchase season tickets for only $65 at USFBullsTix.com or by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls.
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.
 

– #GoBulls –