TAMPA, March 12, 2024 – The University of South Florida softball team (21-9, 1-2 AAC) defeated the Colgate Raiders (8-14) for a pair of wins on Tuesday night at the USF Softball Stadium. The Bulls won with scores of 5-1 and 3-2, respectively.
Game 1 | Colgate 1, South Florida 5
After the first frame, South Florida had a 2-1 lead over Colgate. A lead-off walk, stolen base, and single put runners on the corners. Alex Wilkes (Tampa) single off the third base for her fifth RBI of the season. Rian Eigenmann (Millville, N.J.) hit a sacrifice fly to bring in another run.
The Bulls grew their lead with two runs in the third and one in the fourth. After a walk and a single, Alanah Rivera (St. Petersburg) hit a double to left-center to bring two runs across the plate. A Raiders error allowed the Bulls to grow their lead to 5-1.
Belle Sardja (Gibsonton) earned her 13th start of the season and pitched 4.2 innings. Three more Bulls made trips to the circle with Lexie Kopko (Stewartstown, Pa.) pitching 1.1 innings. Each relief pitcher struck out one batter.
Game 2 | Colgate 2, South Florida 3
Colgate took the early lead with a solo home run in the top of the second inning, but South Florida answered in the bottom half of the inning. Tieley Vaughn (Wesley Chapel) hit her fourth double of the year. She scored on an RBI single from Josie Foreman (West Palm Beach).
Both teams settled in and were scoreless until the sixth inning. With two outs in the top of the sixth, Colgate hit another solo home run to take the 2-1 lead.
The Bulls were held hitless after the second inning until Vaughn hit a lead-off single in the seventh inning. A sacrifice bunt put the Bulls in scoring position. Foreman brought in the tying run with a single through the left side.
The Bulls retired the first three Raiders to move to the bottom of the eighth inning. A walk and a single put runners on. Wilkes hit a single up the middle for the first walk-off hit of her career.
Payton Dixon (Smyrna, Del.) earned her 12th start of the season. Through five innings, she had struck out three batters. Alex Wright (Auburndale) faced one batter in the top of the seventh. Kopko earned her second win of the season.
Notables
- Sardja earned her eighth win.
- Alex Wilkes led with two hits in the first game.
- Wright made her first appearance since Feb. 11.
- Kopko earned her second win.
- Wilkes hit her first career walk-off.
- The Bulls are now 4-0 in extra-inning games.
Up Next
South Florida will go back on the road to continue AAC play as they take on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane this Friday-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 –
