CLEARWATER, Feb. 17, 2023 – The University of South Florida softball team fell to the No. 16/19 Duke Blue Devils, 5-2, on Friday afternoon at the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational.
Senior pitcher Gabriella Nori (Weston) earned her third start of the season. She pitched two innings, struck out just as many batters, and allowed one run. Four more Bulls pitchers made their way to the circle: Antoinette Hill (Braidwood, Ill.), Jaden Martinez (Tallahassee), Morgan Grubb (Bartow), and Lexie Kopko (Stewarstown, Pa.).
Duke got on the board first with a solo home run to right field in the top of the second inning. The Blue Devils added two more in the fourth and fifth inning to make it a 5-0 game.
South Florida got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning. Marissa Trivelpiece (Sugarloaf, Pa.) got on base after being hit by a pitch. Kathy Garcia-Soto (Tampa) pinch ran for Trivelpiece and quickly advanced to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a single from Alexa Galligani (White Plains, N.Y.). Hallie Bryant (Trenton) hit a sacrifice fly for Garcia-Soto to score.
The Bulls final run was in the bottom of the seventh. Garcia-Soto reach on an error by the third basemen and then advanced to second on the throw. Galligani hit a double to left field and brought her home for the Bulls final run.
Notables
- Garcia-Soto scored the Bulls lone runs. She is tied with Meghan Sheehan (Forest Hill, Md.) with four runs this season.
- Galligani and Bryant had the only hits.
- Jordyn Kadlub (Wesley Chapel) and Galligani each had a stolen base.
- Kopko faced seven batters and did not allow a hit.
- Nori ed with two strikeouts.
Up Next
The Bulls continue the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational tomorrow morning as they take on Texas A&M at 10:30 a.m. at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
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 –
