USF Softball Takes on UCF in First Game of NCAA Regional

The Bulls, 45-11, hit the road to Gainesville in the regional round of the NCAA tournament (double elimination style.  This means two losses and you go home).  USF will face UCF in the first game of the regional bracket.

UCF is 39-17 on the season, including a 4-4 record at neutral sites.  The two sides have not faced each other in several years, so it should make for a very exciting opening round (game slated to start at 3:30PM).

The Knights are led by senior short stop Natalie Land (5-6) who is batting .314 with 6 home runs, 5 doubles, 27 RBIs, and leads the team with 36 steals, displaying power and great speed. Senior centerfielder Vanessa Perez (5-4) is batting .298 with 6 doubles and has 20 RBIs on the year.  Senior right fielder Tawny Swan (6-0) is batting .285 with 6 doubles and has 16 RBIs. Freshman 2B/LF Kahley Novak (5-3) is batting .282 with 16 RBIs and has 16 steals (another threat on the bases). Freshman 1B/3B Farrah Sullivan (5-9) is batting .278 with 5 home runs, 10 doubles, and has 31 RBIs to round out their batting order.  The biggest threat in their batting order is Land, who has power and speed, getting everything rolling for the Knights.  USF struggled down the stretch in the Big East, going 5-5 and in the last game, Syracuse was able to chase Sara Nevins in the 4th inning.  She will need to be at her best and Richardson and Griener have to be ready when called upon.

The Knights pitching staff is anchored by freshman RHP Mackenzie Audas (5-5) who is 19-7 (1.09 ERA) on the year. She has pitched 185.2 innings, allowing 115 hits, 60 walks, and has struck out 226 batters.  Senior RHP Ali Schmidt (5-5) is 11-3 (1.62 ERA) while working 112.2 innings, allowing 103 hits, 44 walks, and has struck out 75 batters.  The Bulls were no-hit in their last game and have struggled down the stretch to get runs on the board.  They will have to contend with Audas who attacks the strike zone early and often.  The top of the bottom (Salvarola, Goff, and others) have to set the table and get on base early in the game to put pressure on the freshman and get runs across.

This is going to be a very interesting game.  USF has the deep team and the experience with the senior class to come away with a strong win, but it will be up to Nevins to pitch well and for the offense to wake up that will get the Bulls the win.