Colleges

USF sets hit mark; B-CC wins

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published May 21, 2005

GAINESVILLE - Entering the NCAA Tournament without his starting catcher and second baseman, and with only one healthy pitcher, Ken Eriksen decided to offer a simple strategy to his South Florida softball team: It only takes a five-game winning streak to win it all.

One down, four to go.

The Bulls set an NCAA Tournament single-game record with 20 hits en route to a 14-3, five-inning win over Central Florida at the Florida Softball Stadium on Friday afternoon. USF broke the mark of 17 hits set May 27, 1995, by Iowa in a 14-inning, 9-7 win over Michigan.

South Florida (41-26) faces Bethune Cookman (47-17) at 1 p.m. today in the winner's bracket of NCAA region play. B-CC defeated host Florida 3-2 for its first NCAA region victory.

The Bulls trailed 2-1 before breaking the game open with a seven-run third inning, bolstered by home runs from Tiffany Stewart and Danielle Urbanik.

"They love the philosophy of less work and more rewards, so when you tell them a five-game winning streak and you keep it simple like that, it puts it in some real perspective," Eriksen said.

First baseman Carmela Liwag had six RBIs, a USF single-game record, Urbanik went 3-for-3 and Stewart was 3-for-4. Pitcher Bree Spence (22-13) earned the win.

While South Florida thrived, Florida (41-22) struggled.

"We had eight runners left on base, and the two errors (of three) at third base opened the gates for them and it gave them that emotional push," UF coach Karen Johns said. "I thought we were ready, I thought that we had matched what they were going to bring, but you can't give them that many runs and you can't leave that many on base."

Florida's seventh-inning rally fell short. Lindsay Norfleet scored on an error to pull the Gators within one. But with a runner on second, Melissa Zick struck out.

"It's huge," B-CC coach Laura Watten said. "This team is confident, and in their hearts they knew they deserved to be here. We've been to regionals four times previously and we've been right there on the cusp of winning and getting over that hump. We just came out and decided to let everything go, let the pressure go, relax and have a good time and just play."

B-CC pitcher Lauren McCoy pitched a complete game, giving up one earned run and striking out five. Florida's Stacey Stevens pitched 62/3 innings with four strikeouts. Florida must win twice today to stay in the tournament.

"We've done it (won doubleheaders) plenty of times before, we're not done, we're not even close to done," Stevens said.

At the Auburn, Ala., region, Florida State's Casey Hunter threw a two-hitter in a 5-0 victory over the host Tigers. Hunter, a senior, struck out eight and walked two. Tatiana George homered in the fourth and Veronica Wootson hit a two-run homer in the fifth for the Seminoles (34-26), who face Baylor or Florida A&M at 1 p.m. today.

- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

[Last modified May 21, 2005, 01:04:09]