May 8, 2008

Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Providence College softball team seeded No.8, was defeated by top-seed USF, 8-6, Thursday night in the BIG EAST Championship Quarterfinals at Ulmer Stadium in Louisville, Ky.

The Bulls scored three times in the first inning and tacked on three more runs in the second inning to jump ahead, 6-0. Kate Dunbar and Britta Giddens each had two hits and two runs scored in the first two innings as USF had what seemed to be an insurmountable six-run lead. However, in the third inning, the Friars loaded the bases with one out and junior Mary Rose Sheehy (Woodbridge, Conn.) then blasted a home run to left center to bring the Friars to within, 6-4.

The Friars scored twice in the fourth inning to even the score (6-6). Senior Samantha Pittman and sophomore Teresa Bertels (Lower Gwynedd, Pa.) each reached base to begin the inning and they eventually came around to score on a two-out double by sophomore Jenna Garcia (Morro Bay, Calif.).

The Bulls regained the lead (7-6) in the bottom of the fourth inning as Courtney Mosch hit an RBI double to left center to plate Alison Savarese. The Bulls added to their lead in the fifth inning when Jo Jo Medina hit a ground out with the base loaded to drive in Aya Nakajima who led off with a base hit.

The Friars, who were making second third BIG EAST Championship appearance in the last three years and eighth overall, finished the season with a 25-25-2 overall mark. USF (43-17) will advance to the semifinals where it will face the winner of the Louisville/Notre Dame.