TAMPA, Fla. June 30, 2023 – The University of South Florida head softball Coach Ken Eriksen has announced the addition of four transfers to the 2023-24 season.
“It’s been a fast and furious recruiting time frame the past month and a half,” said Eriksen. “Luckily USF Softball has a great reputation as a national contender that combines high-level academics with top-notch softball. We have been very fortunate to add four transfers that will have immediate impacts on the lineup this year.”
“For us to upgrade our pitching staff with the addition of the Junior College Pitcher of the Year in hometown player Belle Sardja speaks volumes of what we have to offer. Belle’s pitching arsenal is widespread and more than anything else her command of that arsenal is impressive. You don’t win two national championships while in the circle if you don’t have something of value.”
Belle Sardja | P | Tampa, Fla. | Florida Southwestern State
In two years at Florida Southwestern State, Belle has made herself a force on the mound. She has appeared in 64 games, earning 45 starts. She has pitched 28 complete games and has a record of 41-5 with nine saves. In 287 innings, Sardja has only allowed 43 earned runs and retired 211 batters. She has a career ERA of 1.05. In 2022, she earned three NJCAA honors including the NJCAA National Tournament Most Valuable Player. In her final campaign with the Bucs, she added NJCAA National Pitcher of the Year, and NFCA National Pitcher of the Year, and helped her team be crowned back-to-back NJCAA National Champions.
Bailey Drapola | OF | Brookfield, Ohio | Pitt
Bailey has posted a .292 batting average in 274 at-bats in her four-year career. She has appeared in 122 games, earning a start in 102. Drapola has registered 80 hits with 19 doubles, three triples, and 18 home runs. She has scored 51 runs herself and has batted in 63. She became an integral part of the outfield for the Panthers in the last two seasons, playing in center and right. In 2023, Bailey matched a program record of four stolen bases in the second game of the season.
“Bailey Drapola brings speed, athleticism, a strong arm, bat control, and power to the middle of our line-up and outfield,” said Eriksen. “Her dominating performances over the last few years at Pittsburgh have shrewd her appetite to finish her career string with an opportunity to go deep in the NCAA postseason. Bailey will bring that mature sense of urgency to this year’s team. I am looking for her to join forces with the returners we have here and become a gang to be reckoned with on the field. “
Maddie Snider | OF | Columbia, Mo. | Missouri
In her two seasons at Missouri, Maddie has posted a .214 batting average in her 84 plate appearances. She has registered 18 hits, two triples, and two home runs. While on base, she has swiped 22 bags. In 2023, Maddie made an appearance in 44 games, earning a start in 34. She matched a career-high two hits three times. Snider has scored 34 runs and has batted in 19. In two years, she has an on-base percentage of .330.
“Maddie Snider brings speed, power, and game sense to an already good team,” said Eriksen. “Her enthusiasm and demeanor are what I am most excited about. Her experience in the NCAA tournament while at Missouri is invaluable. I know her play will be infectious, and the combination of these assets fits well with the talent that’s already here.”
Sam Mallinder | UT | Plainfield, Ill. | Northern Illinois
In her four seasons at NIU, Sam has started in 134 of 160 games played. In her 396 at-bats, she has 117 hits, 23 doubles, three triples, and 13 home runs for a .295 career batting average. Mallinder has batted in 80 runs while scoring 50 of her own in her career. In her final season with the Huskies’, she earned a spot on the NFCA All-Region Third Team. Sam was also named to the CSC Academic All-District Team and the Academic All-Mac Team.
“Sam Mallinder’s consistency on the field has been noticeable over her last few years at Northern Illinois. Her desire to get to the NCAA tournament was one reason for her choosing USF. I love her bat control and defensive skill play in the middle. Sam’s presence in the infield has just increased our infield play at USF tremendously.”
“The four transfers combined with the returning starters of Marissa Trivelpiece, Rian Eigenmann, Jordyn Kadlub, Kathy Garcia-Soto, Payton Dixon, Camille Ortiz-Martinez, Alexa Galligani, Tieley Vaughn, and the two players coming off of medical redshirt years (Josie Foreman and Alanah Rivera) plus the talented freshman class coming in, are a formula for a very competitive fall for USF Softball.”
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.
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