USF Uses Six-Run First to Defeat FAU in Round One of NCAA Regionals

Courtney Lewellen

The South Florida softball team (54-17) picked up a win in their first game of the 2003 NCAA Regional Tournament in Gainesville on Thursday. The Bulls put up six runs in the first inning, and held on to that lead to win the game 7-3. Florida Atlantic battled hard, but the Bulls were able to shut the door on their comeback efforts with key defensive plays, and clutch pitching.

Leigh Ann Ellis started the game with a couple of strikeouts, and a lazy line drive to the second baseman to get the Bulls up to the plate for the first time. The Bulls came out swinging, sending 12 batters to the plate in their six-run first inning. The Bulls used seven hits and two Florida Atlantic errors to score their runs. Courtney Lewellen and Holly Groves had the first two RBI singles of the inning after Kattrina Dowd and Shelly Riker hit back-to-back singles to start the inning.

The other four runs in the inning were unearned after the two errors made by the FAU infield. Shelly Riker was 2-for-2 in the inning with an RBI. Krista Holle and Stephanie Roberts each had RBI singles in the inning as well.

The Owls scored a run in the top of the fifth inning on three hits. All three hits in the inning were just out of reach of the infield, and dropped in front of the USF outfielders for singles.

The Bulls added a run in the bottom of the fifth after Courtney Lewellen walked, and Holly Groves laced a double to right center field. Christie Chapman then singled in the pinch runner from third base.

FAU battled back in the top of the sixth, scoring a run off of two hits and an error. FAU added one more run in the seventh off of Bulls reliever, Katie Dugger.

The Bulls held on for the 7-2 win. Leigh Ann Ellis pitched six innings allowing six hits and walking three. With the win, Ellis goes to 34-9 on the season.

The Bulls will advance to the second round of the tournament in the winner’s bracket, playing tomorrow at noon against the winner of today’s game between Oklahoma and Bethune-Cookman. Florida Atlantic falls to the loser’s bracket, and will play an elimination game tonight.