TAMPA, Feb. 29, 2024– The University of South Florida softball will welcome four teams to the USF Tournament this Friday through Monday for the final non-conference tournament of the season. The Bulls will welcome Louisville, Georgia Southern, Central Michigan, and Villanova.
South Florida will start the weekend with a doubleheader against Louisville and Georgia Southern on Friday. On Saturday, the Bulls and Cardinals will go head-to-head again, followed by a game against the Chippewas on Sunday. South Florida will close out the tournament on Monday with a doubleheader against Villanova on Monday.
South Florida is nearing 1,500 program wins. The team currently sits at 1,496 wins. The earliest South Florida could reach the milestone is Sunday against Central Michigan. The Bulls would be the first current American Athletic Conference softball program to reach the milestone.
Head coach Ken Eriksen is also nearing a milestone. Eriksen is five wins away from reaching 1,100 in his career. With the milestone, he would be the seventh active DI coach to reach 1,100 wins.
In Wednesday’s first game against Stetson, Payton Dixon set a new career high of 13 strikeouts. It was the most strikeouts thrown by a South Florida pitcher since May 6, 2022, when Georgina Corrick struck out 15 at Memphis. Dixon has a total of 42 strikeouts on the season, ranking 38th in the nation.
Round Up for the Opponents
Louisville (13-2)
Date: March 1 & 2 | 3:30 p.m. | 4 p.m.
Watch GM 1: ESPN+
Watch GM 2: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Series vs. Louisville: Louisville leads, 27-17
Notable Information:
- At the plate, Riley Frizell leads the Cardinals with a .396 batting average. She has 19 hits, with just as many RBI, and leads the team with four home runs.
- In the circle, Alyssa Zabala boasts a 1.37 ERA in 41 innings. She has struck out 38 batters and holds her opponents to a .185 average.
Georgia Southern (10-2)
Date: March 1 | 6 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Series vs. Georgia Southern: South Florida leads, 6-0
Notable Information:
- Anslie Pettit has retired 40 batters in her 35 innings pitched. She has pitched three complete games and earned two saves.
- Katie Perkins leads the team with 18 hits this season. She has a .450 batting average, which ranks in the top 100 in the country.
Central Michigan (1-9)
Date: March 3 | 2:30 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Series vs. Central Michigan: South Florida leads, 16-6
Notable Information:
- Carley Sleeman leads the Chippewas with 10 hits, five doubles, and 15 total bases this season.
- In the circle, Grace Lehto has posted a 2.52 ERA and struck out 21 batters this season.
Villanova (4-9)
Date: March 4 | 3 p.m. | 5:30 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Series vs. Villanova: South Florida leads, 16-6
Notable Information:
- At the plate, Tess Cites boasts a .350 batting average, with 14 hits, two doubles, and three home runs. She leads Villanova in batting average, hits, and home runs.
- Alyssa Seidler leads the Villanova pitching staff with 25 strikeouts and holds her opponents to a .211 batting average.
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 –
