GAINESVILLE, Fla., April 10, 2024 – The University of South Florida softball team (28-15, 7-8 AAC) upset the No. 9 Florida Gators (34-7, 9-3 SEC) on Wednesday night for the first time since May 20, 2012. The Bulls won with a final score of 7-4.
The last time South Florida defeated Florida in Gainesville as a true road match was on March 28, 2012, when the Bulls won with a score of 4-1. The win marks South Florida’s first top-10 win since defeating No. 7 Oklahoma State on February 19, 2022. The Bulls defeated the Cowgirls with a final of 7-1.
Payton Dixon (Smyrna, Del.) earned her 20th start this season and pitched her ninth complete game. She held the Gators to one hit through the first three innings.
Florida took the 3-0 lead in the fourth inning off two hits and a sacrifice fly.
South Florida took the 6-3 lead in the fifth inning. Two hit batters and a single from Olivia Elliott (Tampa) loaded the bases. Bailey Drapola (Brookfield, Ohio) hit a two-RBI single to get the Bulls on the board.
Marissa Trivelpiece (Sugarloaf, Pa.) followed with a double down the left-field line to tie the game at three. With the bases loaded again for South Florida, DaNia Brooks (Tampa) and Kathy Garcia-Soto (Tampa) showed their smarts and earned back-to-back RBI walks to give the Bulls the lead. Jordyn Kadlub (Wesley Chapel) singled up the middle to bring in the Bulls’ sixth run.
Florida loaded the bases in the fifth inning but an amazing catch in foul territory for the third out. Both teams scored a run in the sixth inning to make it a 7-4 game. Rian Eigenmann (Millville, N.J.) hit an RBI single for South Florida’s seventh run.
The Gators gave themselves some hope with a lead-off single in the final inning. The first out was a pop-up to Trivelpiece. The Bulls secured the upset and snapped their 27-game losing streak against the Gators with a double-play.
Notables
- South Florida has its first win over the Gators since May 20, 2012.
- Dixon pitched her ninth complete game and earned her 15th win.
- Elliott, Drapola, and Eigenmann registered a multi-hit performance.
- Alexa Galligani (White Plains, N.Y.) stretched her on-base streak to 15 games.
- Three Bulls were hit by a pitch.
- The Bulls have their first top-10 win since February 19, 2022.
Up Next
South Florida welcomes the Wichita State Shockers for a weekend series this Friday through Sunday.
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 17 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.
– #GoBulls –
