TAMPA (March 9, 2018) – USF continued their heat at the plate with a 12-1 win over Villanova, and an extra-inning victory over Army, 3-2.
USF 12, Villanova 1
USF (14-12) power-hit in a 12-1 victory over Villanova (4-8) that included a pair of home runs by redshirt junior
Mia Fung (Tampa), and one by sophomore
Brooke Hartman (Port Orange, Fla.). Hartman has hit a home run in four of her last six games.
Senior
Lauren Evans (Land O' Lakes, Fla.) hit an RBI double in the second inning to get USF on the board scoring sophomore
AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Penn.). In the third inning, Hartman hit the first homerun of the day, and Fung followed with a 2-run shot over the left field fence. Fung racked up five total RBI when she went just shy of a grand-slam with a blast over the left field fence.
USF 3, Army 2
The Bulls and the Black Knights (2-11) went to eight innings on Friday night. Senior
Hannah Parker (Altoona, Iowa) tossed a complete game and fanned nine for her third win of the season.
USF scored two in the first inning with a single to right field by senior
Amber Atkinson (Citrus, Fla.). Army responded with a pair of singles and a fielder's choice that scored one. In the top of the seventh inning the Black Knights got the equalizer with a home run over left center.
USF's defense stayed extremely tight in the top of the eighth inning. Fung ran a long way for an incredible catch in right field to catch the second out, and Parker struck out the final batter to get USF back to the plate. Haynes started at second for USF, and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Evans. Donovan got the game-winning RBI when she knocked in a fielder's choice that scored Haynes.
Quotable
Head coach Ken Eriksen on the day…
"The first game, I thought we made some good adjustments going from some velocity pitching, to less velocity and more movement. There's a reason their coach put them in there knowing we could get the barrel on some stuff in the mid-sixties. I liked the way our balance was on the plate, and I think that carried over to game two. Their pitcher Springman is pretty darn good, don't let the record fool you. She kept us way off balance, and our guys adapted in the end, they didn't flip out, they didn't freak out, they made some great defensive plays to keep us in the ball game. Hannah Parker, wow. That's the first time we have had an 8-inning complete game from her. Between her, Cheyenne and Doyle today, that was pretty impressive."
Key Stat
14 – USF had 14 hits in two games
Notable
Up Next
USF will take on Iona and Loyola-Chicago in the second day of the Under Armour Showcase tomorrow in Clearwater, Fla.
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 –
