USF wins Big East opener

Posted Mar 27, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Mar 27, 2011 at 06:06 PM

Poor field conditions brought on by rough weather in the Northeast limited the USF softball team to one game at St. John’s in its opening weekend of Big East play, but the Bulls fared well, routing the Red Storm, 10-2, in a mercy-rule shortened game Sunday afternoon.

USF (19-15, 1-0 Big East) had just four hits but took advantage of seven walks and five errors to produce double-digit runs for a second consecutive game. Leadoff hitter Gina Kafalas led the way offensively with two hits and two runs scored, while starting pitcher Lindsey Richardson limited the Red Storm to one run on one hit in four innings to earn her sixth win of the year.

“Considering all the distractions you could have had with the weather and the field conditions, we’re real ecstatic to be coming home with a victory,” Bulls coach Ken Eriksen said.

The two games canceled Saturday between USF and St. John’s will be rescheduled at a later date.

Eriksen joked that the extended time off the field had an effect on his team.

“When you’re sitting around for a day, the only thing you can do, really, is eat. So I think our team put on an average of 6-7 pounds apiece,” Eriksen said. “So it was really tough, actually, getting out of the batter’s box today, but I think we’re going to work on Monday and Tuesday and settle back down to our playing weight for Wednesday’s game (against Florida).

“But I think our team can be proud of the fact that they ate the heck out of the school budget this weekend.”