The University of Florida softball team (12-5) won its sixth straight with a 2-0 win over South Florida (10-7) in Tampa. Despite being out hit 6-4, the Gators put three of their four hits together in the fourth inning for the win.

USF retired the first nine Florida batters in order before freshman Kim Waleszonia (Fontana, Calif.) was able to reach base on an error to lead off the top of the fourth. After two outs, the hometown junior, Melissa Zick (Tampa, Fla.), reached on a single to right field. Junior Lauren Roussell (Cerritos, Calif.) drove in Florida’s first run of the game with a base hit down the left field line. A third straight Gator by hit from junior Lacy Howard scored Zick to put the Gators up 2-0.

South Florida threatened and put two runners on in each the first and fifth innings, but the Gator defense was able to take care of business and get the outs to end the Bulls’ threat.

Junior Stacey Stevens (Gainesville, Fla.) pitched 5.1 innings in the win to improve her record to 4-1 on the season. She struck out four, all looking, and walked one. Freshman Stacey Nelson (Los Alamitos, Calif.) pitched the final 1.2 innings for the save. Christi Ecks took the loss for South Florida to move to 4-5 on the season.

Florida hosts the Cox Communications Invitational in Gainesville Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The tournament opens at 11 a.m. with Seton Hall versus Southern Miss. Florida’s first game is 4 p.m. Friday against Central Michigan.