TAMPA – Kaitlyn Borruso and Bella Crow were strong in the circle, but runs were hard to come by for the Colgate softball team on Tuesday night, as South Florida came away with 4-0 and 1-0 victories in a twin bill at USF Softball Stadium.
 
Colgate fell to 7-10 on the season, while South Florida improved to 19-10 overall.
 
Game 1: South Florida 4, Colgate 0
 
South Florida jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first. Lindsey Devitt was hit by a pitch and then AnaMarie Bruni replaced her at first on a fielder's choice. Bruni stole second and third before scoring on an infield single by Megan Pierro to give the Bulls an early 1-0 edge.
 
Colgate had a strong chance in the top of the third after McKenna Saunders pinch ran for Sabrina Odierno, who led the frame off with a single. Saunders advanced into scoring position on a groundout by Mia Guevarra, but she was stranded there on an inning-ending strikeout.
 
The Bulls responded with three runs in the home half of the third, capped off by an RBI double down the left field line by Macy Cook to extend their lead to 4-0.
 
Borruso came on in relief and tossed three scoreless innings to keep the Raiders within reach.
 
Colgate was set up with two runners on and one out in the top of the sixth after back-to-back singles from Jordan Miller and Virginia Irby, but South Florida pitcher Georgina Corrick worked out of the jam without surrendering a run.
 
That proved to be the Raiders' final threat, as South Florida held off Colgate for the 4-0 victory.  
 
Game 2: South Florida 1, Colgate 0
 
Crow pitched another gem in the night cap, tossing 5 2/3 scoreless innings while scattering three hits with two walks and a strikeout.
 
Crow took a no-hitter into the fourth inning backed by a pair of perfect frames in the first and third.
 
Bethany Keen broke up Crow's no-hit bid with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, but Crow nabbed the final out of the inning on a popout to keep the game scoreless.
 
Guevarra recorded Colgate's lone hit with two outs in the third but it was for naught as a groundout ended the inning.
 
Crow went toe-to-toe with South Florida pitcher Nicole Doyle before exiting in the sixth after a walk put two runners on base. Jessica Hay came in for relief and worked out of the jam with an inning-ending groundout to Meghan Romero at short.
 
Hay got through the seventh unscathed but Pierro drove in the winning run on a bases-loaded, walk-off single to right field in the bottom of the eighth to score Devitt from third and give the Bulls the 1-0 victory.

FROM THE SOURCE
• Colgate head coach Marissa Lamison-Myers:

"We played a tough USF team really well. Our pitching and defense really stepped up for us today. We are looking forward to getting our bats going tomorrow."

KEY RAIDER NOTES
• Guevarra led Colgate with two hits in the doubleheader.
• Odierno, Irby, Miller, Morgan Farrah, and Rebecca Johnson each finished with one hit.
• Crow and Borruso combined to throw 8 2/3 shutout innings.
• South Florida came in averaging nearly four runs per game.

 UP NEXT
• Colgate returns to the diamond on Wednesday for a doubleheader against Providence and Quinnipiac.
• Game times from E.C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla., are set for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.