TAMPA, March 12, 2023 – The University of South Florida softball team defeated the Saint Francis Red Fleshes, 9-6, on Sunday afternoon in the USF Tournament finale.
It was an action packed first inning with seven total runs scored between the Bulls and Red Flashes.
Saint Francis scored three runs in the top of the first. South Florida answered with four runs in the bottom half of the first inning.
Emilee Hanlon (Dunkirk, N.Y.) showed her patience at the plate and earned a lead-off walk and then stole second to put herself in scoring position. The stolen base paid off when Marissa Trivelpiece (Sugarloaf, Pa.) hit an RBI double.
South Florida loaded the bases after Camille Ortiz-Martinez (Ponce, Puerto Rico) was hit and Meghan Sheehan (Forest Hills, Md.) walked. The Bulls added two on a single from Hallie Bryant (Trenton) and a walk from Megan Pierro (Lutz). Kathy Garcia-Soto (Tampa) gave the Bulls the lead with a groundout to second base.
South Florida grew their lead by two in the fourth. Ortiz-Martinez reached on an error by the Red Flashes shortstop that also allowed Hanlon and Bailee Leistl (Valrico) to score. Saint Francis tied the game at six in fifth inning.
The Green and Gold retook the lead in the fifth inning and then added two insurance runs in the sixth from Allana Consolazio (Fort Myers) and Jordyn Kadlub (Wesley Chapel).
Saint Francis had the tying run at the plate in the top of the seventh. They grounded out to Garcia-Soto for the Bulls win.
NOTABLES
- Sheehan set a new career high of walks in a single game with three.
- South Florida was one stolen base away from tying a program record of stolen bases in a single game.
- The current record is nine, set in 1999 against FIU and then again in 2015 against Jacksonville.
- Hanlon, Kadlub, Pierro, and Leistl finished with two stolen bases.
- Ortiz-Martinez, Garcia-Soto, and Bryant led with two RBI, while Kadlub had one.
- The Bulls pitching staff only allowed one walk.
- Dixon recorded her ninth win of the season and her fifth of the week.
Up Next
South Florida will welcome Jacksonville for a midweek double header on Wednesday. First pitch for game one is set for 5 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 –
