May 21, 2001

Tampa, Fla.--The USF softball team played their final game on Sunday, against the Michigan Wolverines. The Bulls, coming off of the exciting win over the No. one seed Alabama, were unable to fight exhaustion in the Championship round of the tournament. After falling behind 4-0 in the first inning, the fatigue began to set in, and the Bulls were unable to recuperate.

The Bulls, a team that seemed to slide into the Regional Tournament, put on a show, proving to the entire softball world that they had been worthy of the at large bid, and also under-rated throughout the season. In the Tournament, USF faced only the top three seeds. Though no team in the region was an easy win, both Michigan, and Alabama had games that were not as intense as every game the Bulls played. After playing 13 innings with Michigan of Friday, the Bulls came out physically exhausted, but still managed to stay intense for the win over Alabama, a team that was ranked as high as third in the nation during this season.

In the final game with Michigan, the Bulls' bats were alive, the Bulls were able to score five runs, getting timely hitting to score crucial runs. Throughout the tournament, the Bulls were hanging on to senior, Jessi Kowal, she carried the team through the last three weeks of the season, usually keeping her team in the game by holding the opponents to one or two runs. In this final game, Kowal's arm gave out, the wear and tear showed, and the Bulls were left with only the option of a slug-feast to win the game.

When Michigan came out and scored four runs in the first inning, it appeared as though the Bulls might be out of the game. In the top of the second though, senior, Priscilla Smith provided a spark to get the Bulls going. With two outs in the inning, Smith came to the plate and drilled a 1-1 pitch over the left center field wall. The homerun was Smith's fourth of the season, and her fifth and final of her four year career here at USF.

The Wolverines answered in the bottom half of the second inning, scoring three more runs, making the score 7-1. But, the momentum of the homerun carried over in the third when the Bulls pulled closer to Michigan's total. Rachel Williams started the inning, reaching first on an error. Shelly Riker then walked. With one out, Renee Oursler walked, and Courtney Lewellen hit a line drive into center, scoring a run and leaving the bases loaded for Ginny Georgantas. Georgantas then hit a double into center, scoring all three runners, before getting thrown out at third trying to make it a triple.

From this point on, Michigan showed why they are a world series team. They continued to add runs to their lead, until it was impossible for the Bulls to make a come back. The Wolverines went on to win the game 12-5, ending the hopes of the College World Series for the USF Softball team.

For four Bulls, it was the last game they would ever play in a USF uniform. The Bulls, were finally forced to say goodbye to; Jaime Anderson, Jessi Kowal, Nikki Phillips, and Priscilla Smith. Both Anderson and Kowal were two-year players here at USF, and both came in to rebuild the pitching staff after the graduation of Monica Triner and Jennifer Thompson. Smith and Phillips were here for the duration of their college careers, both played in the 1998 Regional Tournament, when the Bulls again were beat out in the championship round of the tournament.

Kowal and Phillips were both named to the Region IV All-Tournament Team, for their stellar performances in the Tournament. Phillips was spectacular at the plate, and Kowal pitched in every game for the Bulls, giving them a great opportunity to win them all.

For the remaining Bulls, the summer will be a time to relax, get well from the nagging injuries that plague a team after 77 games, and work hard to prepare for next season when the Bulls will once again look for national recognition, and their first trip to Oklahoma City for the College World Series.