TAMPA, March 17, 2023 – Freshman Kathy Garcia-Soto (Tampa) hit two walk offs, including her first career home run, in the Bulls 8-7 win over Lehigh and 4-3 win over #11/9 Texas.
GAME 1 | Lehigh 7, USF 8 (8)
The Bulls scored half of their runs in the third inning, taking the 4-2 lead over the Mountain Hawks. Kathy Garcia-Soto (Tampa) walked after a seven-pitch at bat. She put herself in scoring position with her first stolen base of the season and was brought home on an RBI double from Megan Pierro (Lutz).
Emma Humplik (Orange, Texas) hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at two. With two runners on, Marissa Trivelpiece (Sugarloaf, Pa.) laced a triple to left-center for the 4-2 lead. South Florida added two more in the fourth inning on a single from Alyssa Rano that turned in to an extra base hit due to a Lehigh error allowing Alexa Galligani (White Plains, N.Y.) and Pierro to cross the plate grow the lead to 6-2.
Lehigh scored three runs in the fifth inning and then two in the seventh to take a one-run lead.
Alyssa Rano (Seminole) started the inning with an infield sing followed by back-to-back groundouts to advance to third base. Trivelpiece did what she’s best at and hit an RBI double to send the game to extra innings.
With Hallie Bryant (Trenton) on second base, Tieley Vaughn hit a sacrifice bunt to advance her to third. She scored on a walk off single from Garcia-Soto.
GAME 2 | #11/9 Texas 3, USF 4
The Bulls carried their momentum into the next game against the No. 11/9 Texas Longhorns. Wasting no time in the first inning, Trivelpiece singled and scored on an RBI double from Camille Ortiz-Martinez (Ponce, Puerto Rico).
With two outs it the third inning, Trivelpiece kept the inning alive with a single up the middle. Meghan Sheehan (Forrest Hill, Md.) reached on error by the Longhorns second baseman. Lauren Bevis (St. Johns) pinch ran for Trivelpiece and scored on a double from Ortiz-Martinez. Her double also brought Sheehan home for the 3-0 lead.
Texas tied the game after scoring one in the fourth and two in the fifth.
South Florida went to the bottom of the seventh hoping to come out on top. Garcia-Soto stepped up to the plate and after watching one pitch, she settled down. On the next pitch, she launched the ball over the left field wall for her first career homerun, a monster one at that, and gave the Longhorns their fifth loss of the season.
NOTABLES
- Garcia-Soto hit her first career home run.
- Dixon earned her 11th win of the season.
- This was the first top-10 win for the Bulls since February 19, 2022 when they defeated then #7/7 Oklahoma State.
- Antoinette Hill (Braidwood, Ill.) struck out two Longhorns in her five innings pitched.
- Ortiz-Garcia had her second three-RBI game of her career.
Up Next
The Bulls continue the South Florida Showdown with a double header against Marist and Iowa tomorrow. First pitch against Marist is set for 11:30 and first pitch for Iowa is set for 4:30 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 –
