By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
TAMPA — USF went into Wednesday's softball doubleheader with Notre Dame owning a share of the Big East lead, but 14 innings and one hit later, the Bulls had been dominated in 1-0 and 5-0 losses before an announced crowd of 517.
Notre Dame freshman Laura Winter threw a no-hitter in the first game, retiring the final 19 batters in order to outduel Bulls freshman Sara Nevins of Pinellas Park. Nevins took a no-hitter into the fifth and finished with a three-hitter, but saw her scoreless streak end at 46 innings after outfielders Gina Kafalas and Kelly McCarver, collided and dropped what would have been a third out.
In the second game, Brittany O'Donnell held USF without a hit until the sixth, when shortstop Janine Richardson singled up the middle. Nevins pitched the first three innings, but her throwing error brought in two runs to extend the Irish lead to 4-0.
"We waited for ourselves to make mistakes," USF coach Ken Eriksen said. "You've got to swing the bat in our league against good pitching."
USF (32-18, 12-3) ends the regular season with three games at first-place DePaul next weekend.
Fiesta fixes: Chris Madel, the attorney who conducted an internal investigation into political and financial improprieties at the Fiesta Bowl, said the committee that operates the game is closely following his recommendations to change its operations. "I can say the Fiesta Bowl approach … is a textbook example of how best to position your organization in the good graces of the federal and state government," Madel said. A BCS task force is not expected to announce until May whether the bowl game will remain in the title rotation. "The Fiesta Bowl people were forthright," said BCS executive director Bill Hancock, who heard highlights of a presentation made to a task force. "It was a very good exchange."
BYU accepts bowl invite: Brigham Young accepted an invitation to play in the Dec. 30 Armed Forces Bowl if the Cougars qualify in their first season as a football independent, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. The Cougars, who are leaving the Mountain West, were extended a provisional invite earlier in the day.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.