TAMPA, March 15, 2023 – The University of South Florida softball team split their double header with the Jacksonville Dolphins on Wednesday night. The Bulls run-ruled the Dolphin, 9-1, in the first game and then lost, 3-2, in game two.
GAME 1 | JU 1, USF 9
The Bulls had an action packed fourth inning, scoring five runs to take the 9-1 lead over Jacksonville. USF loaded the bases and after one foul ball, Megan Pierro (Lutz) watched the next four ball and earned a walk to bring a run home.
Hallie Bryant (Trenton) hit her fifth sacrifice fly to bring Kathy Garcia-Soto home. Back-to-back singles from Meghan Sheehan (Forest Hills, Md.) and Marissa Trivelpiece (Sugarloaf, Pa.) brought the final three runs home.
South Florida jumped on the board in the first inning with back-to-back home runs from Trivelpiece and Vivian Ponn (Fort Myers). Pierro’s sacrifice fly in the third inning brought Garcia-Soto home.
Jacksonville’s lone run came on the second pitch of the game, a solo homerun from Madison Reynolds. Payton Dixon pitched her sixth complete game. She only faced 20 batters.
GAME 2 | JU 3, USF 2
Both teams settled in for game two, with the Bulls sending true freshman Jaden Martinez (Tallahassee) to the circle. Through the first five innings, she only allowed two hits.
Tieley Vaughn (Wesley Chapel) got the Bulls first hit in the fourth inning. In the next at bat, Jordyn Kadlub (Wesley Chapel) hit a two-run home run to give USF the 2-0 lead.
Martinez pitched 5.1 innings and allowed three hits. Antoinette Hill came in with two batters on in the sixth inning. The Dolphins scored three and took the lead for the first time since the first inning in game one.
The Dolphin’s runs came off two singles and a USF error. Bailee Leistl (Valrico) reached on a fielder’s choice in the seventh inning and then advanced to second on a groundout by Emilee Hanlon (Dunkirk, N.Y). A flyout would end the game.
NOTABLES
- Three different Bulls hit a home run today.
- Ponn and Kadlub hit their first home run of the season.
- Martinez led with four strikeouts today.
- This is the first time Dixon has pitched more than two innings and not record a strikeout.
- USF improves to 20-3 against the Dolphins.
Up Next
The Bulls will welcome #11/9 Texas, Iowa, Marist, and Lehigh this weekend for the South Florida Showdown. This will be the Bulls final tournament before conference play.
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 –
