TAMPA, Fla., April 14, 2024 – DaNia Brooks’ (Tampa) career game led the University of South Florida softball team (30-16, 9-9 AAC) to a come-from-behind win over the Wichita State Shockers (19-17, 10-8 AAC) to win the series on Sunday.
With the win, the Bulls reached 30 wins for the 13th straight season, excluding the Covid-19 shortened season in 2020.
Brooks finished the day going 3-for-3 with two RBI, one home run, and a double. She had her first multi-hit performance and her second multi-RBI game.
Both teams got on the board in the first inning. The Shockers scored first with a solo home run. Alexa Galligani (White Plains, N.Y.) walked and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Bailey Drapola (Brookfield, Ohio) singled to right field for the game-tying RBI.
Wichita State hit another home run in the fourth to take the 2-1 lead.
South Florida answered with a solo home run in the bottom half of the fourth from Brooks. It was her first career home run.
Two doubles from Drapola and Brooks gave the Bulls the lead in the fifth inning. Drapola led the inning off with a double to left-center and was brought home on a double down the left-field line from Brooks.
Payton Dixon (Smyrna, Del.) earned her 22nd start and pitched three innings. Belle Sardja (Gibsonton) and Lexie Kopko (Stewartstown, Pa.) made appearances in the circle. Sardja pitched 3.2 scoreless innings, earning her 12th win of the season.
Notables
- Brooks was perfect from the plate, earning a double and her first home run.
- Galligani and Drapola had a multi-hit performance.
- Galligani’s on-base streak stretches to 18.
- This is the first series win over Wichita State since the 2022 season.
- Sardja held the Shockers to 10.2 scoreless innings this weekend.
- The Bulls reached 30 wins in a season for the 13th straight year.
Up Next
South Florida will head back on the road to Greenville, N.C. for a series against East Carolina this Friday through Sunday.
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 –
