TAMPA (Feb. 14, 2016)— Playing in front of a crowd of 2,089 fans, the USF softball team fell, 11-1, to the reigning national champion Florida Gators Sunday evening.

For the second straight year, the Bulls (1-4) faced the No. 1 Gators (4-0) in the opening weekend of the season. The matchup between the two teams was the Bulls' second with a top five team and fourth against a 2015 NCAA tournament opponent in the last three days.

Down 6-0, USF ended Florida right-hander Kelly Barhnill's shutout attempt, with an RBI single in the third from Juli Weber to score freshman Lindsey Devitt. The Bulls chased Barnhill after loading the bases with no outs, but couldn't plate any more runs.

Devitt's run was the first allowed by Florida all weekend. The Gators had scored 33 unanswered runs in their first three games before USF ended the streak.

Florida struck first on a two-out RBI single by Janell Wheaton. The Gators had a chance for more but sophomore Mia Fung turned a double play, catching a deep fly ball in right field and gunning down the runner headed home from third.

The Gators used a two-out rally in the second to tack on three runs. Starting pitcher Erica Nunn issued a bases loaded walk and hit-by-pitch to plate two, before being replaced by freshman Cheyenne Eggens. Eggens issued another bases loaded walk, but got a fly out to Astin Donovan in left field to end the inning.

USF got its first base runner of the game in the bottom of the second on a five-pitch walk issued to freshman Sam Worrell. Fung followed up with a walk of her own to put two on for senior Monica Santos. Santos hit into a fielder's choice, erasing Fung, but putting runners at the corners for Cassidy Boyle. A chopper to the shortstop would result in the third out, leaving the Bulls scoreless.

Florida tacked on another two runs in the third on a Taylor Schwarz two-run homer. The Gators added five runs between the fourth and fifth innings, pushing their lead to 11-1.  

The Bulls will take the week off before returning to play Friday, Feb. 19, at the Michele Smith Invitational in Clearwater, Fla. USF will face two Women's College World Series teams in Tennessee and Auburn in the two-day tournament.

Be sure to follow USF softball on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. Get your season tickets and mini plans HERE. The USF softball program has been one of the most successful on campus, making 12 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women's College World Series in 2012.

- #GoBulls –