Four more Bulls earned postseason awards.
Irving, Texas, May 10, 2023 – After an outstanding season on the field, freshman shortstop, Kathy Garcia-Soto (Tampa) has been tabbed this year’s American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Garcia-Soto also earned a spot on the AAC All-Conference Second Team and the All-Rookie Team. She is joined by Gabriella Nori (Weston) and Vivian Ponn (Fort Myers) who were named to the All-Conference First team, and Marissa Trivelpiece (Sugarloaf, Pa.) and Jordyn Kadlub (Wesley Chapel) who were named to the All-Conference Second Team.
KATHY GARCIA-SOTO | FR. | IF | TAMPA, FLA.
Earning a start in 43 of her 50 appearances, Garcia-Soto has been a force in the infield. She has played at second and third base but has found her home at shortstop. She has started 35 of her 43 games as the Bulls shortstop. This season, she leads the team in double plays with nine. Two of her double plays came in the win over Michigan State when the Bulls turned four, setting a new single season record. She has 86 assists so far on the season, five more than the next Bull.
GABRIELLA NORI | GR. | P | WESTON, FLA.
Nori has made an appearance in 21 games, earning 19 starts. Of her 19 starts, she has pitched seven complete games, two were shutouts. In 102.2 innings, she as struck out 90 batters and only walked 17. She has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5.29, leading the American. She also leads in walks allowed per seven innings with 1.16. Against then #9 Tennessee, Nori held the Lady Vols to two hits through four innings.
VIVIAN PONN | SR. | P/UT | FORT MYERS, FLA.
Ponn has been a dual threat in the circle and at the plate. In the circle, she has made 16 appearances earning three wins and two saves. Her first win of the season came against then #9 Texas Longhorns. She pitched two scoreless innings to help the Bulls upset the Longhorns, 4-3. At the plate, she is tied for first with eight home runs. She is one away from breaking into the top 10 single season records. She has hit four doubles and one triple.
MARISSA TRIVELPIECE | JR. | IF | SUGRLOAF, PA.
After transferring from Michigan State, Trivelpiece has made her mark on the Bulls roster, leading the team in hits, doubles, home runs, and RBI. Her eight home runs and 13 doubles put her one away from breaking into the top 10 in both single season categories. She has had two multi-home run performances and, in both games, the Bulls match singe game home run record. In the Bulls 6-1 win over Michigan State, she hit her first career grand slam. Trivelpiece has 32 RBI this season, setting a personal season high of four, three times.
JORDYN KADLUB | JR. | OF | WESLEY CHAPEL, FLA.
Earning a start in 36 of her 46 appearances, Kadlub has led the team in putouts all season with 155. She has nine assists and has helped tun six double plays. At the plate, she has 27 hits, six doubles, and one home run. As a baserunner, she has been one of the biggest threats, snagging 11 bases. In USF’s 9-6 win over St. Francis, Kadlub stole two of the Bulls eight stolen bases. South Florida was one bag away from tying a program single game record.
The Bulls will open the 2023 conference tournament tomorrow at 5 p.m. against the No. 6 seed East Carolina Pirates. USF opened their regular season conference slate with a sweep of the Pirates, outscoring them 23-6.
2023 American Athletic Awards
Player of the Year
Sydney McKinney, Wichita State
Pitcher of the Year
Sarah Willis, Jr., UCF*
Defensive Player of the Year
Kathy Garcia-Soto, South Florida
Sami Hood, Wichita State
Rookie of the Year
Alex Aguilar, Wichita State*
Coaching Staff of the Year
Wichita State*
All-Conference First Team
P – Sarah Willis, UCF*
P – Gabriella Nori, South Florida
C – Jada Cody, UCF
1B – Zoe Jones, Wichita State
1B – Shannon Doherty, UCF
2B – Micaela Macario, UCF
3B – Turiya Coleman, Houston*
SS – Sydney McKinney, Wichita State*
SS – Imani Edwards, Tulsa
OF – Kennedy Searcy, UCF
OF – Haley Morgan, Tulsa
OF – Addison Barnard, Wichita State
OF – Lauren Lucas, Wichita State
DP/U/P – Vivian Ponn, South Florida
DP/U/Non-P – Bree Cantu, Houston*
All-Conference Second Team
P – Alex Aguilar, Wichita State
P – Lauren Howell, Wichita State
C – Lainee Brown, Wichita State
IF – Jasmine Williams, UCF
IF – Kathy Garcia-Soto, South Florida
IF – Marissa Trivelpiece, South Florida
IF – Sami Hood, Wichita State
OF – Chloe Evans, UCF
OF – Taylor Edwards, East Carolina
OF – Jordyn Kadlub, South Florida
OF – MacKenzie Denson, Tulsa
DP/U – Aubrey Evans, UCF
DP/U – Kylee Nash, Tulsa
All-Rookie Team
P – Alex Aguilar, Wichita State*
2B – Sami Hood, Wichita State
3B – Mackenzie Kila, East Carolina
SS – Kathy Garcia-Soto, South Florida
OF – Neely Taylor, Memphis
OF – Taylor Sedlacek, Wichita State
DP/U – Aubrey Evans, UCF
About USF Softball
Be sure to follow USF softball on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. The USF softball program has been one of the most successful on campus, making 16 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.
– #GoBulls –
