Softball Sees Early Lead Fade, Falls to Host USF- Drops Closer to the Wolfpack |
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(USF
boxscore) 3/10/06 -- Long Island saw an early lead fade, falling to host University of South Florida, 3-2, at the adidas Invitational at the EC Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla. After the Bulls put a run on the board in the first, the Blackbirds responded in the fifth frame with a pair of scores. Krystal Mejia (Sylmar, Calif.) reached on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice from classmate Leah Glenn (Huntington Beach, Calif.). A passed ball saw Mejia jump to third and score on a right field single from senior Alissa Villanueva (Pacoima, Calif.). Celina Castillo (Redwood City, Calif.) followed with double to deep center and advanced to third on the throw home which cut Villanueva down at the plate. The third straight hit, this from Vanessa Mejia (Roanoke, Va.) plated Castillo and gave LIU a 2-1 advantage over the home team. In the seventh and clinging to a 2-1 lead, Krista Holle reached on a Castillo miscue. After a pop-up bunt put the first out on the board, a single through the right side put runners on first and second. Catcher Sarah Watson hit a slow roller to Castillo who got the put-out at second but in trying to turn the double play, overthrew Holly Irwin at first. A walk-off double scored the winning run for the Bulls. Freshman Jenny Giles enjoyed another successful outing despite taking the loss, allowing seven hits and striking out two. She allowed just two earned runs. Despite scattering seven hits, the Blackbirds failed to get on the board – falling 4-0- against the Wolfpack of N.C. State in the silver bracket and closing game of the USF Tournament. State scored a run in the first and the Blackbird registered their first threat in the bottom frame. With two outs, Alyssa Winslow (San Jacinto, Calif.) and Randi Gillespie (San Jose, Calif.) posted back-to-back singles only to remain stranded after a groundout ended the threat. LIU had its largest opportunity to get on the board in the fourth. Gillespie singled to open the bottom of the inning and advanced to second on a groundout by Brittany Murphy (Los Alamitos, Calif.). K. Mejia singled to second, moving Gillespie to third. State switched pitchers, electing for XX Sims. Another out but Villanueva walked, loading the bases. Freshman Brittnee Edwards fouled out to first to htitle the run. N.C. State scored three runs in the seventh for the difference.
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