TAMPA, Feb. 11, 2024 – The University of South Florida softball team (3-2) fell to the No. 17 Florida Gators (4-1) on Sunday afternoon. The Bulls fell with a score of 12-3.
First-year pitcher Julia Apostolakos (Beachwood, N.J.) earned the second start of her career and pitched one inning. Belle Sardja (Gibsonton) relieved her and pitched 4.2 innings before Payton Dixon (Smyrna, Del.) entered the circle.
The Bulls quickly put a runner in scoring position to open the fourth inning with a walk from Alanah Rivera (St. Petersburg) and a single from Sam Mallinder (Plainfield, Ill.).
Redshirt sophomore Tieley Vaughn (Wesley Chapel) singled to the Gator’s shortstop and then advanced on a throwing error. The error allowed the Bulls to score a run and cut the lead to three.
Bailey Drapola (Brookfield, Ohio) hit the Bull’s first home run of the season with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. South Florida added another run in the bottom of the seventh with Jocelyn Wilkes’ (Tampa) first career hit and RBI.
Notables
- South Florida is 13 wins from reaching 1,500 in program history.
- Head coach Ken Eriksen is 14 wins from hitting 1,100 in his career.
- Mallinder earned her first hit as a Bull.
- Drapola hit the first home run of the season.
- Sisters Jocelyn Wilkes and Alex Wilkes (Tampa) earned their first collegiate hit.
- Jocelyn also earned her first collegiate RBI.
Up Next
The Bulls will welcome the Kansas Jayhawks to the USF Softball Stadium tomorrow at 4 p.m. The game has been moved up due to potential weather.
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 –
