Feb. 26, 2006

Final Stats

The Siena softball team completed its first weekend of play with a 13-1 loss to host South Florida in the Louisville Slugger Invitational championship game at the USF Softball Field.

USF (10-6) opened up the scoring early and often, taking a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning after loading up the bases with one out. Senior Sarah Watson drove in the Bulls' first run off a RBI single and freshman Ashley Bullion tallied an RBI off a bases-loaded walk. With two outs, freshman Liz Howell came up to bat and recorded her first-career RBI, driving in two runs off a single, 4-0.

The Bulls got to work in the second inning, adding two more runs to their lead thanks to back-to-back RBI singles by Tiffany Stewart and Watson. With runners at second and third, freshman Britta Giddens cleared the bases with a two-RBI double. Howell continued her RBI effort, driving in a run off a single to make the score 9-0.

Jamie Walker scored the Saints only run in the third inning after reaching on an error. Jenny McNulty began the game with a single, it was the only hit of the afternoon for Siena.

USF's bats continued to connect with the ball in the third inning, as Meghan Kowal registered her first-career hit and RBI as a Bull, hitting a three-RBI double, 12-1.

With newcomers Kowal and Howell getting their career firsts, senior Nicole Christensen, a relief pitcher for the Bulls, came up to bat and tallied her first-career RBI, driving in a run off a single in only her 11th-career at-bat.

Pitcher Cristi Ecks (4-4) picked up her fourth win of the season, throwing a one hitter in three innings of work. The freshman didn't allow an earned run in the game.

Junior Danielle Urbanik came in the game in relief in the fourth inning and didn't allow a hit in her two-shutout innings of work.