Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
USF
Marshall Falls to South Florida, 5-4
2/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 14, 2009
TAMPA, Fla. - Marshall fought back to take a seventh inning lead but USF answered in the bottom half to take a 5-4 victory at the Wilson Tournament.
"We missed an opportunity to win against a traditional and quality team because of the way we started in the field and also because we couldn't close the door," head coach Shonda Stanton said.
The Thundering Herd (3-4) jumped out to an early 2-0 in the top of the first as leadoff freshman Alianna Telles (Sylmar, Calif.) and senior J.J. Bitner (Virginia Beach, Va.) both walked.
Junior Caitlyn Jackson (Ontario, Calif.) loaded the bases with no outs singling to left field. Jackson has now successfully hit in seven straight games.
Freshman Rebecca Gamby (Mount Victory, Ohio) would then reach first on a fielder's choice scoring Telles and senior Kelly Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) grounded out but earned an RBI scoring Bitner.
The lead was short lived as the Bulls (5-4) put three runs on the board. Senior Autumn Mitchell (Shady Spring, W.Va.) would strike out Janine Richardson before walking Gina Kafalas.
After a foul fly out, Mitchell walked Jojo Medina and with two outs USF's Alison Savarese hit a double scoring two and a single to score the third.
Marshall found themselves in a position to plate some runs in the third after Jackson walked and Gamby singled to center. Senior Rachael Sofie (Everett, Wash.) bunted both over but two pop outs in the infield would end the inning.
Both teams continued to scatter runners on the bases but neither could score as the Herd left six runners on base to the Bulls five in the game.
Marshall used the seventh inning to take control of the game as sophomore Jessica Hughes (Stillwater, Okla.) singled to the left side. USF entered Cristi Ecks to close the game.
Telles and Bitner both grounded out putting Hughes on third. Jackson was hit by a pitch setting up Gamby with runners on the corners. She would rip a shot to center field scoring both runners taking the lead 4-3.
Jackson entered the game in the bottom of the seventh to relieve Mitchell after a walk. Mitchell went six innings with six strikeouts. Caitlin Schneider then struck out looking.
With one out, Jackson walked Cat Olnick before forfeiting a double to center to Richardson allowing one run to score and tying the game. The Herd then elected to load the bases by walking the Bulls Lauren Rodriguez.
The game ended with Britta Giddens hitting a shot to junior Marcena Bertoldo (Beaumont, Calif.) who threw over to first allowing USF to score. Ecks was credited with the win while Jackson took the loss.
"Our girls showed good character to fight back and take the lead in the top of the seventh," Stanton said. "But we need to be better from the first pitch to the last and finish the game."
Gamby finished the game going 2-for-4 with three RBIs while Bitner, Jackson and Hughes each had one hit apiece.
The Herd will play one more game before heading back to Huntington as they take on Illinois Sunday at 9 a.m. EST.
