CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

TAMPA, Fla. - Top-seeded USF prevailed in the longest game in American Athletic Conference Softball Championship history on Thursday evening, battling to a 2-1 win over No. 8 seed UConn in 12 innings. Lauren Evans dropped an RBI single to right field to seal a semifinal berth for the Bulls, who will meet No. 5 seed Memphis on Friday afternoon.



UConn rode the marathon performance by junior pitcher Jill Stockley, who set the tournament record for innings pitched in a single game. In 11.2 frames, she struck out six batters, permitting just two earned runs on nine hits and walked just one.

The Bulls split time in the circle between Georgina Corrick and Hannah Parker, with Parker earning the win in 3.1 innings of work. Corrick tossed 8.2 frames, allowing just two hits, while the duo combined for no earned runs and two walks.

Lindsey Devitt led USF with a 3-for-4 night at the plate, with Brooke Hartman generating a 2-for-5 performance. UConn's Olivia Sappington went 3-for-5 with the Huskies' lone multi-hit performance.

Evans put an end to the stalemate with JoJo McGill on base in the bottom of the 12^th, lacing a hard-hit ball over the head of UConn's Ryne Nakama at second base to push the winning run across.

USF put runners up on Stockley starting in the third, but UConn was able to strand two runners with a deep fly-out to left field. An inning later, the Husky defense was there again to hold off a runner at third with the final out.

A diving grab in centerfield by Astin Donovan highlighted the top of the fifth, and the senior would score the game's first run in the sixth. Donovan reached on a single, eventually making her way to third on ground-outs before Macy Cook drove a line drive to left center for the RBI.

The Huskies bounced right back in the top of the seventh, when a walk by Kiwi McDaniel gave way to a single from Sappington in the next at-bat. With runners on second and third, pinch-hitter Emma Stanley sent a single up the middle, and pinch-runner Hollis Wivell managed to score on the tight play at the plate.

Evans reached second with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but UConn negated the chance with a regulation-ending double-play by Briana Marcelino and Nakama, forcing just the third extra-inning contest in tournament history.

For full coverage of the American Athletic Conference Softball Championship, visit TheAmerican.org/Softball and follow @American_DN on Twitter.


2018 American Athletic Conference Softball Championship
USF Softball Stadium - Tampa, Fla.

Quarterfinals - Thursday, May 10
American Digital Network
Game 1: No. 6 Tulsa 3, No. 3 Wichita State 1
Game 2: No. 2 Houston 3, No. 7 ECU 1
Game 3: No. 5 Memphis 3, No. 4 UCF 0
Game 4: No. 1 USF 2, No. 8 UConn 1 (12 inn.)

Semifinals - Friday, May 11
American Digital Network
Game 5: No. 6 Tulsa vs. No. 2 Houston - 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT
Game 6: No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 1 USF - 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT

Championship - Saturday, May 12
ESPN2
Game 7: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 - Noon ET/11 a.m. CT