Softball's Pitching Ranked Among Nation's Best

[Brad]

Courtesy USF SID

USF Softball’s Pitching Ranked Among The Nation’s Best

TAMPA, Fla. (April 11, 2007) – The NCAA released its first national softball rankings as of games through April 8 and the University of South Florida softball team is ranked among the nation’s best.

The Bulls pitching staff has continued to be dominant this year and is ranked third-best in the nation with 1.25 ERA, allowing only 61 earned runs in 342.2 innings pitched. In 2006, the staff concluded the season ranked 15th in the country with an ERA of 1.42.

Sophomore pitcher Cristi Ecks continues her solid play in the circle with the third-best ERA in the country of 0.60. The Manassas, Va., native has tossed 93 innings, allowing 62 hits and only eight runs. Junior Bree Spence has been steady for the Bulls again this year and ranks 20th in the nation with an ERA of 1.15. A native of Clearwater, Fla., she has allowed only 13 earned runs in 79 and one-third innings. Newcomer Kristen Gordon has proven her ability as one of the top USF pitchers with the 32nd-lowest ERA of 1.28. The Cocoa, Fla., native has given up 19 earned runs in a team-high 103 and two-thirds innings.  

Ecks and Spence have also excelled coming out of the bullpen and closing out games. Ecks is tied for second in the country with five saves and Spence is tied for fifth with four. Both could also tie or break the USF season record of six set by Monica Triner in 1997.

[The Sheriff]

When the errors stops, this team will be awesome... you'll see!