UCLA
South Florida
Softball improves to 4-0 with wins over South Florida, Florida International
February 05, 2000 | Softball
Feb. 5, 2000
USF Box Score
Fla. International Box Score
TAMPA, Fla. - The top-ranked UCLA softball team improved its record to 2-0 on Saturday in Tampa, defeating South Florida 6-1 and Florida International 11-0. UCLA now advances in championship play at the USF-Louisville Slugger invitational, and will play Tennessee in the tournament semifinal at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday.
In the opener, junior Courtney Dale earned her second victory of the year, accumulating nine strikeouts to ffset two walks in her seven innings in the circle. USF's one run of the game was unearned, meaning that the Bruins have yet to allow an earned run this season.
UCLA entered the third inning with a 1-0 lead, and improved that to 4-0 on the strength of a Julie Marshall home run to straightaway centerfield. It was the 35th home run of Marshall's career, giving her sole possession of second place on UCLA's career home run list. She had been tied with Bruin senior third baseman Julie Adams, who is currently out with a shoulder injury.
The Bruin victory over USF ensured a first-place finish in Pool A, and a matchup with Pool B's fourth-place team, Florida International.
In that game, sophomore Amanda Freed gave up a leadoff single in the first inning, which would prove to be the only base runner of the game for the Golden Panthers. Freed posted eight strikeouts in the contest, and has yet to walk a batter in 2000.
The Bruins started off with three runs in the first inning and built from there. The final nail in the FIU's coffin was a six-hit, six-run fourth inning, in which the Bruins batted around and were able to capitalize on two FIU errors. The game was ended after the top of the fifth inning, due to the eight run rule.
UCLA returns to action against Tennessee at 10 a.m. Sunday, and will then play their final game of the tournament at 2 p.m.
