SIXTH-INNING RALLIES GIVES SOFTBALL SPLIT IN TAMPA

Saturday, March 13

Tampa, Fla.

9:30 a.m.

James Madison University

Long Island

3/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla., March 13, 2010 - South Florida scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth in game two and James Madison got one in the sixth of game one as the Dukes split a pair of games in the South Florida Under Armour Showcase in Tampa, Fla. on Saturday. The Dukes beat Long Island 3-2 in the first game of the day at Eddie C. Moore Field before losing the nightcap 7-4 to the Bulls.

JMU remains at .500 this season with a 9-9 record, while Long Island drops to 9-8 and USF improves to 11-8.

In game two, South Florida broke open a 2-2 game with a five-run sixth inning. First baseman Kendall Arnold led off the frame with a triple to left center and the Bulls loaded the bases on an error and a walk before pinch hitter Laura Fountain singled up the middle for two runs. USF capitalized on two more Madison errors and a double by third baseman Alison Savarese to extend its lead to 6-2. Catcher Cat Olnick capped the inning with a double to right-center field to drive in Savarese for the 7-2 lead.

Olnick and center fielder Janine Richardson led the USF offense as each player recorded two hits, including a double. Savarese finished with two RBI and a run scored, while Fountain was 1-for-1 with two RBI.

The Dukes tied the game in the top half of the inning on junior catcher Katie Spitzer's (Broadway, Va./Broadway) third home run of the season. Spitzer blasted a 1-2 offering from relief pitcher Brittany Bowles, deep over the right-field fence, scoring senior pinch runner Courtney Simons (Richmond, Va./Deep Run). It was the seventh career home run for the Broadway, Va. native.

Back-to-back singles by sophomore second baseman Michelle Clohan (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) and senior left fielder Brittney Dyson (Waldorf, Md./Thomas Stone) put two runners on after Spitzer's homer, but right-handed reliever Kristen Gordon got out of the jam with a strikeout.

Spitzer added two more RBI to her day with a bases-loaded single in the top of the seventh, to pull the Dukes within three, but Gordon struck out the last two batters to pick up the win.

Spitzer finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored and four RBI. The junior is tied for the team lead with eight runs batted in.

Gordon improved to 3-1 after giving up three hits, two runs, walking two and striking out three in 1 2/3 innings pitched. Right-hander Capri Catalano received a no-decision after giving up three hits, no runs, walking two and striking out eight in five innings.