TULSA, Okla. (May 14, 2016)— The USF softball team dropped a 4-0 decision to third-seeded Tulsa in the American Athletic Conference Championship game Saturday morning.

Tulsa earned the leagues automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament with the win. The Bulls, who finished with a 44-14 record and the regular season conference title, will find out their tournament fate on Sunday, March 15, at 10 p.m. during the NCAA Selection Show on ESPNU.

USF advanced to the championship game after defeating Houston, 4-1, in the semifinals on Friday afternoon. As the No. 1 seed in the tournament, the Bulls earned a first-round bye, only needing one game to advance to the championship.

The two teams were locked in a scoreless battle for the first three innings before Tulsa took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning on a pair of RBI singles and a sacrifice fly.

After a lead-off triple, Erica Nunn got the first out of the inning with her fourth strikeout of the day. An RBI single from Shelby Estocado plated the first run and a sacrifice fly from Catherine Horner made it a 2-0 game. Jocelyn Sheffield recorded a two-out RBI single to make it 3-0 after the first inning.

A two-out, bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning extended Tulsa's lead to 4-0.

Nunn took the loss, going 5.0 innings, allowing six hits and four runs while striking out four. Caitlin Sill earned the win, throwing a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits.

Cassidy Boyle led the Bulls with a 2-for-2 day with a single and a double. Astin Donovan and Lauren Evans eached picked up a hit for USF.

Evans, Donovan, Nunn and Lee Ann Spivey were all named to the All-Tournament Team.

The NCAA tournament begins May 20 at various campus sites across the nation. The Women's College World Series takes place June 2-8 in Oklahoma City, Okla. at the Hall of Fame Stadium.

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. The 2016 team won the American Athletic Conference regular season title, the first under Ken Eriksen.  

- #GoBulls –