The softball team is out to an impressive 29-5 (3-0) start to the season, sweeping Rutgers over the weekend to open the Big East portion of the schedule. One of the main reasons the team is having such great success so far is the starting pitching. While the offense continues to hit for power (more home runs than last season already), the pitching has been the strength of the team and going forward will be the key for them to make it to the NCAA tournament. The Bulls have three strong arms that can take the mound in any given night, but it is sophomore Sara Nevins that is stealing the show.
The left hander went 15-8 last year with a 1.71 ERA in her freshman year, leading the staff of a surprising young USF team. She pitched 155.1 innings, allowing 115 hits, 38 earned runs, walked 23 batters, struck out 193 batters and held opponents to a .197 batting average against her (also added 8 saves to the mix as well). The numbers were impressive for a young pitcher and now with a year under her belt, she is only getting better.
This season she is 16-2 with a .55 ERA. She has thrown 7 complete games, including a perfect game and has 4 saves. She has tossed 127.2 innings, allowing 77 hits, 10 earned runs, walked 22, struck out 163 batters and is holding opponents to a .171 batting average against her. She has already earned weekly honor rolls from the Big East and simply dominates batters. At the start of the season, she got off to a bit of a slow start, but since then, she has taken over the circle and with the great defense around her, the wins are stacking up fast.
USF has two other talented pitchers on the staff with Sam Griener and Lindsey Richardson, but the ace is Nevins. As the Bulls head to Gainesville to face the Gators on Wednesday night and then on to Pittsburgh for the weekend, Nevins will continue to be the leader of the staff and will continue to give USF the opportunity to win more games and make their way to the NCAA tournament.
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