USF Softball Struggles In Day Two of Invitational

[Brad]

Courtesy USF SID

USF Softball Struggles In Day Two Of adidas Invitational Losing Both Games

CLEARWATER, Fla. (March 8, 2007) – The University of South Florida softball team dropped both of its matchups in day two of the adidas Invitational, losing game one, 3-2, to Oklahoma State in 10 innings and dropping the final game, 8-3, to Western Michigan Friday night at the EC Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla.

Bree Spence (3-3) was credited with the loss in game one, pitching three innings of relief with one hit and two strikeouts. Her career strikeout total is now 302, putting her in sixth place in the record books. Starter Cristi Ecks gave up four hits in seven innings with eight Ks.  

In the second game, Kristen Gordon (5-2) pitched five and one-third innings giving up five runs, two were earned, while tying her career high with nine Ks. Aya Nakijima saw her first collegiate action in the circle, pitching two-third innings and giving up one run.

Catcher Cat Olnick gave USF the early advantage with a RBI double down the left line in the third inning of the first game.

With the Bulls looking to close out the game with their one-run lead in the top of the seventh with two outs, Oklahoma State (15-13) scored the equalizer off a solo homer by pinch hitter Samantha Heinlein in the first game.

In the eighth inning the international tie breaker rule went into effect and both teams scored runs to keep the score tied, 2-2. After a scoreless ninth inning, Oklahoma State moved its runner over off a sacrifice bunt and scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly.

The Bulls (17-10) could not answer back in the bottom of the 10th and were retired in order.  

In game two, USF opened the scoring in the top of the first, 2-0. Tara Toscano led off with a bunt single and stole second base. A fielding error by the second baseman on a bunt by Kit Dunbar scored USF’s first run, and JoJo Medina drove in the second with a RBI single up the middle.  

After Western Michigan (4-5) scored a run in the second inning, the Broncos’ offense exploded in the fourth inning and the sixth inning, scoring seven runs for an 8-2 lead.

USF scored a run in the seventh inning thanks to a two-out RBI single by Hillary Wolf, but the comeback was ended as reliever Kelli Zache got a strikeout to end the game.

The Bulls will conclude pool play on Saturday at 1 p.m. when they face Jacksonville before they get seeded into either the gold, silver or bronze bracket.