TAMPA, Feb. 25, 2023 – The University of South Florida softball team capped off the USF Invitational with wins over Michigan State, 6-1, and UIC, 7-3, on Saturday night behind homeruns from Marissa Trivelpiece and Hallie Bryant.
GAME 1 | MSU 1, USF 6
Junior transfer Marissa Trivelpiece (Sugarloaf, Pa.) gave the Bulls a dominate 6-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning with her career first and the first of the season grand slam. Kathy Garcia-Soto (Tampa) doubled, Hallie Bryant (Trenton) singled, and Emilee Hanlon (Dunkirk, N.Y.) walked to load the bases.
The Bulls looked to bounce back against Michigan State after falling to No. 9 Tennessee last night. In the bottom of fourth inning after Rian Eigenmann (Millville, N.J.) walked, Natalie Zweig hit her first double of the season and got the Bulls on the board first. Later that inning Bryant followed suit and the Green and Gold took the 2-0 lead.
Michigan State cut South Florida’s lead in half on an RBI single from AJ Militello in the top of the sixth inning.
Payton Dixon (Smyrna, Del.) earned the start for South Florida. She pitched 5.0 innings, struck out one, and allowed no runs. Antoinette Hill (Braidwood, Ill.), Lexie Kopko (Stewartstown, Pa.), and Morgan Grubb (Bartow) saw action in the circle. They pitched a combined 2.0 innings and allowed two hits.
GAME 2 | UIC 3, USF 7
South Florida went into their last game of the USF Invitational looking to complete the sweep on the day. UIC got on the board first scoring three runs in the top of the third inning.
The Bulls saw an action-packed inning in the bottom of the fourth. Camille Ortiz-Martinez (Salinas, PR), Megan Pierro (Lutz), and Alexa Galligani (White Plains, N.Y.) all singled, with Bailee Leistl (Valrico) pinch running for Ortiz. Trivelpiece walked and Leistl scored. Vivian Ponn (Fort Myers) lined out to shortstop, but the base runners took advantage, and each stole a base with Pierro stealing home.
Galligani and Trivelpiece scored on back-to-back singles from Jordy Kadlub (Wesley Chapel) and Hanlon.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Bryant showed off her speed and hit the Bulls first inside the park homerun, bringing Hanlon and Kadlub across the plate as well.
Jaden Martinez (Tallahassee) started in the circle for the second game, pitching 3.1 innings and striking out three. Hill and Dixon made an appearance. Hill earned her third win, pitching 0.2 innings and only allowing one hit. Dixon pitched the final 3.0 innings, retiring four batters and earning her first save.
NOTABLES
- Trivelpiece’s grand slam against her former school was her first in her career and the first of the season for the Bulls.
- She set a new career-high RBI with four.
- South Florida set a new program record for single game double plays with four against Michigan State.
- The Bulls set a single game season high stolen bases with five against UIC. The program record is nine, set twice against Jacksonville (2015) and FIU (1999).
- Bryant’s inside the park home run was her first in her career.
Up Next
The Bulls will welcome Kansas, Rhode Island, USC-Upstate, NIU, and Army for the Bulls Invitational from March 2-6.
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 –
