TAMPA, Fla. August 31, 2023 – Head softball coach, Ken Eriksen, announces a new era of South Florida softball with the completion of his five-member transfer class.
Olivia Elliott, a sophomore outfielder from UCF, is the last member of Eriksen’s 2023 transfer class. She joins Belle Sardja, Bailey Drapola, Maddie Snider, and Sam Mallinder.
“The additions of these five transfers has added a sense of urgency to our fall team development”, said Eriksen. “If you can add talent, along with maturity and game experience to an already talented team, I believe you are moving in a great direction immediately. The array of talent from pitching all the way through the infield and outfield has added depth not only this year but also over the next few years. It gives us the stability to win right now and develop our very talented underclass players. I am at ease knowing what we will take the field with this fall.”
Complete Class Below
Olivia Elliott | OF | Tampa, Fla. | UCF
During her freshman campaign with the Knights, Elliot made an appearance in 727 games, earning a start in seven. She posted a .259 batting average with seven runs and hits. In the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational, Elliot hit her first home run against Alabama and her first double against Mississippi State. In the Knights final game against Florida State, she stole her first stolen base. Elliot finished the season with a perfect fielding percentage.
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.
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.
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.
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.
– #GoBulls –
