In a tale of two games, the USF (2-2) softball team dropped the first game of a Wednesday road doubleheader to Upper Iowa before shelling the Peacocks (8-15) in the nightcap to earn a split.
Upper Iowa handed USF its worst loss of the season with an 11-3 defeat in the opener but Katie Larson's perfect outing (5-for-5) at the plate helped the visitors thump the Peacocks 15-1 in the second game.
The 15 runs plated by the Cougars is also new USF softball single game record (dating back to 2003).
"I went from being very disappointed to elated," said head coach Travis Lape. "The first game wasn't bad until the fifth inning, when Upper Iowa started to break loose. I think the team quit playing in that game and there was some negativity in the dugout, which was addressed in between games."
"The ladies came out with great attitudes in the second game and they looked like the team that I've been watching this fall and preseason. They jumped on Upper Iowa and never looked back; it was fun to watch," he added.
In the opening contest it was all Upper Iowa as the Peacocks strung together 11 runs on 13 hits through five innings to take the 11-3 mercy-rule win. The game was tied 3-3 after three innings but Upper Iowa blew the game open with a two run fourth following by a six run fifth inning.
The Cougars had six hits in the contest as Larson (2), Bailey Bouman, Naomi Tesar and Priscilla Quintana (2) were the only ones that were able to get through Peacock pitcher Kylee Knop. Quintana, Tesar and Jenna Turner each tallied an RBI.
Bouman (0-1) took the loss for USF as she struck out five in 4.2 innings of work and gave up 11 runs (eight earned) with three walks.
Game two was a different story. The Cougars' heavy artillery torched a trio of Peacocks hurlers for 15 runs and coasted to the easy 15-1 mercy rule win. USF plated five runs in the top of the first and followed that with a 10-run scoring spree in the top half of the third inning.
The Cougars out-hit the Peacocks 12-3 in the nightcap. Larson went 5-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. She finished the day a perfect 7-for-7 at the plate. Tesar was 2-for-3 with three RBI, three runs scored and a walk. Noelle Roden tallied a pair of RBI from the designated hitter slot. Shelby Stewart posted a two RBI base knock.
"Katie Larson having a 7-for-7 day from the leadoff spot, that's huge," Lape said. "She has already shown the ability to jump-start our offense, and that's something we are going to be asking her to do throughout the season."
Amanda Walters picked up her second complete game win of the season in the circle. She allowed just one run one three hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
USF heads to Florida this weekend for its annual spring break trip. The Cougars will play 10 games in the Orlando area, beginning with Indiana Tech on March 19.
