Softball Splits in Day Two of Tournament

[Brad]

Courtesy USF SID

Softball Splits Games In Day Two Of Wilson Tournament

TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2007) – The No. 24-ranked University of South Florida softball team spilt games in day two of the Wilson Tournament on Sunday afternoon at the USF Softball Field.

USF (6-5) opened up the day losing a close game, 1-0, to No. 15 Washington, and then bounced back to defeat East Tennessee State, 10-2, in five innings.  

Despite Washington pitcher Danielle Lawrie recording 20 strikeouts against USF, the Bulls had their chances to put runs on the board. In every inning but the second, USF had at least one runner on base, but could not bring them home, stranding a total of 10. On four occasions the Bulls had two runners one base – including the seventh inning – and each time Lawrie ended the inning with a strikeout.  

USF’s Bree Spence got the start in the circle and pitched a solid game for the Bulls despite giving up the lone run. In six innings she gave up eight hits, but came up big when needed and stranded six Washington runners. With the loss, Spence’s record drops to 1-1 on the season.  

Lawrie got the complete-game win, improving her record to 5-0 on the year. Even though she registered 20 Ks, she did give up five walks and four hits.  

Tara Toscano rattled off two hits in a 2-for-4 effort, while Ashley Bullion and Carly Griffin each notched a hit.

The Huskies scored the only run of the game in the fifth inning with two outs on the board.

In game two, the USF offense made up for the previous game and scored 10 runs off of 10 hits en route to the win in the sixth inning due to the eight-run mercy rule. The Bulls opened up the scoring in the first with two runs and then added a total of eight in the fifth and sixth.  

The pitching combination of starter Kristen Gordon and reliever Bree Spence was stellar in the game, stymieing batters to combine for a no hitter. Gordon picked up her first-collegiate win in five and one-third innings of work. She allowed two walks and gave up two runs – only one was earned – in a seven strikeout effort. Spence came in the game in the sixth and struck out one batter in two-thirds innings.  

Aya Nakajima and Britta Giddens got on base in the first inning with singles and scored off of a double to the gap in left center by designated player Courtney Mosch.  

The Bulls went three innings without adding to their lead until Mosch tallied her third RBI of the game off of a sacrifice fly. Toscano opened up the inning doubling down the left-field line and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt before being driven in by Mosch.

In the sixth inning, the USF offense exploded for seven runs, as its entire lineup made an appearance at the plate. Two fielder’s choices and an ETSU error put runners at first and second for the Bulls and a double steal advanced them each a base. Junior catcher Laura Wolf cleared the bases with a three-run home run over the left-field fence, registering her third-career blast.  

After Toscano reached first from a fielder’s choice and Hillary Wolf drew her first-career walk, Mosch drove in her fourth run of the game, slicing the ball into right field for a single. With runners at the corners, Jessica Landau drove in another run with a double to left field to put the score at 9-2. Only needing one run to end the game early, an illegal pitch by ETSU’s Amanda Haverman scored the game-ending run.  

The Bulls will close out the final day of the Wilson Tournament on Monday when they play Hofstra at 4 p.m.