The Bulls couldn’t make up a late two-run deficit in a loss to the Bulldogs
TAMPA, Feb. 7, 2020 – The University of South Florida softball team fell short of a seventh-inning comeback in a 3-2 loss to Fresno State on Friday night in the Bulls’ opening game of the USF-Rawlings Invitational.
USF (0-2) and Fresno State (2-0) traded blows in the first inning of a matchup between two teams receiving top-25 votes. Two singles in the first resulted in a run for the Bulldogs. USF quickly responded, with AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Pa.) being driven home on a Megan Pierro (Lutz, Fla.) sacrifice fly.
Things quieted down after that, with Fresno State challenging Bulls pitchers to get out of a few jams. Ultimately, the USF pitching staff did just that, stranding nine Bulldogs on the base paths during the game.
Fresno State took a 3-1 lead with a two-run home run off the bat of Kelcey Carrasco in the top of the fifth. USF tried to respond in the fifth, with Bruni and Brooke Leistl (Valrico, Fla.) getting on base, but the Bulldogs escaped the jam.
Bethaney Keen (Bradenton, Fla.) hit USF’s first home run of the season to shrink the deficit to one in the bottom of the sixth. A quiet top of the seventh gave USF the chance for its first walk-off of the season, with Bruni reaching third and Leistl on first. However, no Bulls crossed the plate.
Starting pitcher Camryn Dolby (Round Hill, Va.) pitched through four innings, surrendering only one run while striking out six. Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) also threw two perfect innings with three strikeouts.
Quotable
Interim head coach Jessica Moore on Bethaney Keen and player usage:
“[Bethaney Keen] is coming in clutch, the kid can hit. We have to continue to put her in a position where she can see some better pitches. We can put some hitters around her, so people can’t avoid her. You’re just constantly trying to get creative with what we were doing and with the personnel that we have. We’re athletic. We’re just trying to put the puzzle together.”
Notables
- Bruni has a hit and a stolen base in her last three games, dating back to May 18, 2019 against South Carolina in the NCAA tournament regionals.
Up Next
USF plays a two-game slate on Saturday. The Bulls start with No. 17 Michigan (1-0) at 4:15 p.m. and wrap up the day with an 8:45 p.m. matchup against Georgia State (0-2).
The Bulls close out the USF-Rawlings Invitational with a 2:30 p.m. game against No. 7 Florida on Sunday.
About USF Softball
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 15 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.
– #GoBulls –
