TAMPA, March 18, 2023 – The University of South Florida softball team split their Saturday double header with Marist and Iowa. The Bulls defeated Marist 6-2 and fell to Iowa 12-4.
GAME 1 | Marist 2, USF 6
Saturday morning started off how Friday night ended, with the Bulls on top. Hallie Bryant (Trenton) and Meghan Sheehan (Forest Hills, Md.) got on base with a hit by pitch and a single. Senior Vivian Ponn (Fort Myers) doubled to left field and brought Bryant and Sheehan home for the 2-0 lead.
Jordyn Kadlub (Wesley Chapel started the next inning with a single and then stole second for her eighth stolen base of the season. A double from Kathy Garcia-Soto (Tampa) scored another run. Garcia-Soto scored on a single from Megan Pierro (Lutz) who was then brought home on a groundout from Sheehan.
Payton Dixon (Smyrna, Del.) pitched six innings, striking out seven batters, two shy of a career high. Antoinette Hill (Braidwood, Ill) pitched the final inning, striking out one.
South Florida’s final run came off a double from Tieley Vaughn (Wesley Chapel) doubled to bring Bailee Leistl (Valrico) home.
GAME 2 | Iowa 12, USF 4 (6)
USF jumped out on top quick, scoring four runs in the second inning. Camille Ortiz-Martinez (Ponce Puerto Rico) opened the inning with a double and advanced to third on a groundout from Humplik.
Lauren Bevis (St. Johns) pinch ran for Ortiz-Martinez and scored on a single from Garcia-Soto. A double from Emilee Hanlon (Dunkirk, N.Y.) cleared the bases for three more runs to score.
Iowa answered with two runs in the top of the third inning. Before the third inning was over, the Bulls and Hawkeyes entered a one hour and 24-minute rain delay. After the delay was done, Iowa came out and scored 10 unanswered runs.
Jaden Martinez (Tallahassee) pitched two innings and struck out one. Hill came in and pitched 2.2 innings, while Morgan Grubb (Bartow) and Lexie Kopko (Stewartstown, Pa.) pitched 0.2 innings.
Up Next
The Bulls will close out the South Florida Showdown with a Sunday matinee against #11/9 Texas tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.
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 –
