Softball games postponed after Ecks' collapse

USF softball coach Ken Eriksen has postponed a scheduled doubleheader scheduled for Wednesday at Florida after junior pitcher Cristi Ecks collapsed and was taken to a Tampa hospital during practice Tuesday afternoon.

Ecks was to remain at University Community Hospital until Wednesday as a precaution, but all medical reports were positive and stable, USF officials said.

"The last thing we thought about today is softball,” Eriksen said in a statement late Tuesday night. “The first and only concern was the health of Cristi Ecks. I saw Cristi tonight and she is relaxed and resting at the hospital. Our program feels truly blessed that tonight’s medical reports are positive.

"After the unnerving events of today, we asked Florida if we could postpone our game scheduled to be played in Gainesville on Wednesday and they kindly agreed. We will take the day to regroup and recuperate as a team.”

USF is scheduled to play two Big East doubleheaders on the road this weekend, with games at Rutgers on Saturday and at Villanova on Sunday.

The Bulls are 29-12 this season, with Ecks one of the team's most consistent pitchers. The junior is 7-3 with a 1.21 ERA, and her 102 strikeouts put her one behind freshman Capri Catalano for the team lead.