BIRMINGHAM, AL., March 23, 2024 – The University of South Florida softball team (23-12, 3-5 AAC) split a doubleheader with the University of Alabama-Birmingham (13-17, 4-4 AAC) on Saturday afternoon.
South Florida took the first game with a final score of 6-4, while UAB took the second game with the same score.
Game One | South Florida 6, UAB 4
The Bull’s offense wasted no time putting runs on the board. Alexa Galligani (White Plains, N.Y.) hit a lead-off double to start the game. Olivia Elliott (Tampa) hit her first home run in the Green and Gold over the center field wall to give the Bulls the early 2-0 lead.
South Florida added one more run in the opening frame with an RBI single from Josie Foreman (West Palm Beach) to extend its lead to 3-0.
UAB answered in the third inning with two runs.
South Florida added to its lead in the fifth inning. Back-to-back doubles from Elliott and Alex Wilkes (Tampa) scored one. A sacrifice bunt from Alanah Rivera (St. Petersburg) allowed Wilkes to score and give the Bulls a 5-2 lead.
The Bulls’ bats weren’t finished. In the top of the sixth inning, Jordyn Kadlub (Wesley Chapel) reached on a Blazers error and then stole second. Elliot singled to the Blazers second baseman, allowing Kadlub to score, making the score 6-2 in the Bulls’ favor.
UAB added two runs in the seventh inning.
Payton Dixon (Smyrna, Del.) pitched 5.2 innings, striking out five, and walking two. She earned her 11th win of the season. Lexie Kopko (Stewartstown, Pa.) and Belle Sardja (Gibsonton) made appearances in the circle for South Florida. Sardja earned her fourth save of the season.
Game Two | South Florida 4, UAB 6
UAB jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening frame. South Florida answered with two runs in the top of the second. Sam Mallinder (Plainfield, Ill.) earned a lead-off walk. Camille Ortiz-Martinez (Salinas, Puerto Rico) hit her first home run of the season to bring the Bulls within one.
UAB answered in the bottom of the second with two more runs.
In the third inning, the Bulls came within one run again with a two-run home run from Bailey Drapola (Brookfield, Ohio), her second of the season.
The Blazers extended their lead to 6-4, scoring one run in the bottom of the third.
Sarda earned her 16th start of the season. She struck out two batters. Julia Apostolakos (Beachwood, N.J.) made her 13th appearance in the circle.
Notables
- Elliott garnered her sixth multi-hit performance and her second multi-RBI performance.
- Elliott finished with three RBI and went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs.
- Galligani extended her on-base streak to six games, her longest this season.
- Three Bulls hit a home run, two in one game.
- Elliott and Ortiz-Martinez hit their first home runs of the season.
- As a team, the Bulls earned 10 hits in the first game. It’s the fifth time the Bulls had 10+ hits in a game.
- The Bulls hit four doubles.
Up Next
The Bulls and Blazers will close out the series tomorrow at 12 p.m. (E.T.).
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 –
