USF Softball Plays Another Double Header

The USF Bulls, 21-5, split a double header yesterday in the opening round of the USF Invitational. Today, they head to Clearwater for another double header at the Eddie C. Moore complex.

In the first game the Bulls will face Northern Illinois (game slated to start at 1:45PM) and will finish the day with a game against Kent State (slated for 4PM).

NIU is 12-10 on the season (faces UNF before facing USF this afternoon). They are led by sophomore infielder Stephanie Tofft who is hitting .479 with 3 home runs and 20 RBIs on the year. Sophomore outfielder Nicole Gremillion is batting .418 with 3 home runs and 9 RBIs. Sophomore infielder Shelby Miller is batting .354 with 7 home runs and 21 RBIs. Senior outfielder Dani Parrish is batting .295 with 2 home runs and 12 RBIs to round out a powerful batting order. The pitching staff is led by freshman RHP Megan Dortch who is 9-6 on the year while working 85.2 innings, allowing 61 hits, 62 walks, and has struck out 110 batters. Freshman LHP Jessica Sturm is 3-1 while tossing 40 innings, allowing 45 hits, 16 walks, and has struck out 18 batters thus far.

NIU has a powerful batting order, but they have two freshmen pitchers that can give up walks and hits early in games. USF will need to get a great effort out of their pitchers and will need to take advantage of their young pitching.

In the second game USF will face Kent State who enters the game with a record of 10-12 (faces Coastal Carolina before this game).

The Golden Flashes are led by senior catcher/3B Jessica Blanton (5-8) who is batting .404 with 1 home run and 10 RBIs on the season. Senior outfielder Lauren Mokler (5-2) is batting .353 with 9 RBIs. Sophomore 2B/3B Abbey Ledford (5-5) is batting .333 with 4 home runs and has 19 RBIs. Senior SS/3B Mary Holt (5-8) is batting .283 with 3 home runs and 9 RBIs to round out a solid batting order that has power up and down the order. Freshman RHP Emma Johnson (5-8) leads the pitching staff with a record of 5-8 while tossing 79 innings, allowing 73 hits, 22 walks, and has struck out 93 batters. Sophomore RHP Lauren McNeil (5-9) is 3-1 on the year while working 34 innings, allowing 38 hits, 16 walks, and has struck out 20 batters on the year.

The Bulls will try to take both games before they return home tomorrow to face 21st ranked FSU at 1:30PM.