TAMPA (Feb. 26, 2017) – The Hatter Invitational came to an end with the USF softball team splitting its final day of play. The Bulls dropped a tough 12-1, run-rule loss to Ole Miss, before rebounding for a 6-3 victory over Stetson to wrap up the weekend.

GAME ONE: OLE MISS 12, USF 1

Ole Miss struck first in the top of the first inning, plating a run on an RBI single from Alyssa Gonzales. The Bulls would respond, plating a run of their own.

Kristen Wyckoff led off the game with an infield single, stole second, and moved to third on a flyout from Bethaney Keen. With two outs on the board, Lauren Evans singled up the middle, plating Wyckoff to tie the game.

The Rebels would plate one run in the second on a solo homerun from Brittany Finney.

Ole Miss would plate eight in the fourth to extend their lead. After a passed ball scored one run, a three-run home run from Gonzales made it a 6-1 game. An RBI-double and a two-RBI single with two outs on the board, would make it 9-1 after four innings.

In the fifth, Ole Miss used another three-run homer to make it a 12-1 game and put it out of reach for USF.

GAME TWO: USF 6, STETSON 3

The Bulls used solid pitching and a patient work ethic at the plate to secure a 6-3 victory over Stetson in the final game of the Hatter Invitational.

Stetson took a 1-0 lead after an RBI single in the second inning, but the Bulls would respond with four runs of their own in the third.

Back-to-back singles from Brooke Hartman and Morgan Gross set the table for Kristen Wyckoff to load the bases on a single of her own. With one out, Kenya Yancy roped a double into centerfield, plating Hartman and Gross.

Bethaney Keen followed Yancy with an RBI single to plate Wyckoff, and Lauren Evans recorded an RBI groundout to plate Bruni, who pinch ran for Yancy.

Stetson would get one run back in the fourth. After two quick outs, the Hatters strung together back-to-back hits to plate a run. In the fifth, the Hatters scored on a dropped fly ball in left field to make it a one-run game.

In the sixth inning, Sam Worrell led things off with a solo homerun on a 1-0 count. The sophomore's first long ball of the year was an opposite-field homer over the right field wall.

The final run for USF would come in the seventh inning as Hartman drew her third walk of the game for an RBI. USF loaded the bases on a single, error and catcher's interference before Hartman's patience at the plate paid off for the bases-loaded walk.

Kalen McGill would get her third win of the season, throwing four innings and allowing three runs. Cheyenne Eggens picked up her first save with three innings of one hit ball.

Next Up
The Bulls will begin the first weekend of the USF Series, March 3-5. The Bulls will play five games over the weekend, three at the USF Softball Stadium and two at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater.

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 12 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women's College World Series in 2012. USF returns 15 players from the 2016 squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament, including American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Juli Weber, first-team all-conference selection Lauren Evans, and second-team selections Astin Donovan and Kristen Wyckoff.

- #GoBulls –