By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 8, 2011
USF softball coach Ken Eriksen, citing the "safety and welfare" of his players, pulled his team off the field during Sunday's game at DePaul, forfeiting the regular-season finale.
Eriksen removed his players during the second inning of the game in Chicago. In a statement issued by the university, USF said it forfeited out of "concerns related to the safety and welfare of … team members."
USF (33-20, 13-5 Big East) informed the conference of its concerns and said it wouldn't comment until the league "reviewed and addressed the matter."
Eriksen, whose team trailed 1-0 at the time, was not available for comment. USF said the decision to forfeit was not related to field conditions or officiating.
The move impacted the Bulls' seeding for the conference tournament. Had they won, they would've been the No. 3 seed. Instead, they're No. 4 and face No. 5 Louisville, the host, on Thursday.
The Bulls and Blue Demons split a doubleheader Saturday, USF handing DePaul just its second conference loss. Notre Dame already had earned the tourney's No. 1 seed. But a DePaul win coupled with a Notre Dame loss would've given the Blue Demons a share of the regular-season title. Notre Dame, however, won to clinch the title outright.
