TAMPA, Feb. 15, 2024 – With heavy hearts, the University of South Florida softball team (6-2) defeated Illinois-Chicago, 4-1, and Boston College, 3-1, to open the Fonseca Memorial Tournament at USF on Thursday night.
With the wins, South Florida is now 10 wins away from reaching 1,500 in program history, while head coach, Ken Eriksen, is 11 wins away from hitting 1,100 in his career.
Game 1 | Illinois-Chicago 1, South Florida 4
South Florida needed one inning to come from behind and take the lead from the Illinois-Chicago Flames. With two outs and two runners on, Marissa Trivelpiece (Sugarloaf, Pa.) hit an RBI single to tie the game.
Camille Ortiz-Martinez (Salinas, Puerto Rico) had a full-count, but a catcher’s interference loaded the bases for the Bulls. Bailey Drapola (Brookfield, Ohio) hit a deep ball to left-center for two runs to score and give the Bulls a 3-1 lead.
Alex Wilkes (Tampa) earned her first RBI of her career with a single to bring Ortiz-Martinez across the plate.
Belle Sardja (Gibsonton) pitched her first complete game as a Bull. She struck out six batters and allowed three hits.
Game 2 | Boston College 1, South Florida 3
The Bulls and Eagles were tied at one after the first inning. The Bulls had the bases loaded with Alanah Rivera (St. Petersburg) at the plate. Her discipline at the plate garnered a walk to tie the game at one.
No team would score until the bottom of the fifth inning after a single from Rivera, followed by a double from Alex Wilkes. A sacrifice hit from Josie Foreman (West Palm Beach) allowed a run to score and give South Florida the lead.
The Eagles had the bases loaded in the top of the sixth inning, but back-to-back great plays from Rivera and Foreman got the final two outs to end the inning.
South Florida added a run in the sixth inning from an RBI single from Alexa Galligani (White Plains, N.Y.)
Payton Dixon (Smyrna, Del.) 6.2 innings and struck out five batters.
Notables
- South Florida needs 10 wins to reach 1,500 in program history.
- Ken Eriksen needs 11 wins to reach 1,100 in his career.
- Bulls pitching did not allow a single walk in both games.
- They totaled 11 strikeouts for the day.
- Wilkes led the team with three hits.
- South Florida led with three doubles.
Up Next
The Bulls will continue the Fonseca Memorial Tournament tomorrow with games against Boston College at 4:30 and Purdue at 7 p.m. The Purdue game has been moved up from Saturday due to the threat of inclement weather on Saturday. Tomorrow’s game against Boston College will be the #BucStrong game to celebrate the life of Alexis Buchman. There will be a table to give out gray wristbands and gray ribbons.
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 –
