TAMPA (Feb. 23, 2018) – Upperclassman Samantha Worrell and Cassidy Boyle powered the Bulls to a 7-4 win over Fordham in a doubleheader split Friday evening.

USF (6-8) utilized 12 hits and no errors in its win over Fordham to open the USF tournament. The Rams took a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two-run homer, but USF lead off in the second inning with three straight singles to put the tying runners on base. Worrell (Oviedo, Fla.) scored on a wild pitch, followed by Boyle (Buchanan, N.Y.) who went home a sacrifice fly.

The pair continued their power in the third inning when Worrell hit a two-run rocket, followed by a solo homer from Boyle to give the Bulls a 5-2 lead going into the fourth inning. Redshirt junior Mia Fung (Tampa) and sophomore Brooke Hartman (Port Orange, Fla.) would each score to seal a 7-4 victory.

The Bulls fell, 4-1, to Drake (8-3) in their second game of the tournament doubleheader. A three-run homerun and a sacrifice fly to left field gave the Bulldogs a 4-0 jump on USF. The Bulls got on the board in the fifth inning when junior Lindsey Devitt (Jacksonville, Fla.) hit a solo home run, her second of the season, sixth of her career.
Quotable

Head coach Ken Eriksen
On Kyndall Williams in the starting lineup…
"We're getting better. It was nice to see the rookie out there, Kyndall Williams, out at second base. I thought she did a really nice job to get her first collegiate hit, it's nice when you break the ice. She's a player who is going to progressively get better, she works hard every single day."

On the infield in game one…
"I thought Boyle did a nice job at shortstop running the show, and Brooke Hartman has taken place for Evans over the last week because of a concussion, but to see Lauren [Evans] get back out there tonight too, was great. We're increasing our depth in the infield, and now we have to increase a little luck out there as well. We are getting snagged by the blooper, and the jam drop in the infield. We're extending innings, and we need to find a way to close it out."  

On hot bats by Worrell and Boyle…
"When they are aggressive on the first pitches they see that are hittable, and everyone's swinging a bat, it's easy to increase your batting average. If you sit and take pitches and get deeper in counts, the odds are against you. I think that's a learning process, a learning curve. Even though we're 14 games into the season, it's never too late to be aggressive."  

Key Stat
0 – USF didn't commit a single error against Fordham

Notable

• Seniors JoJo McGill and Hannah Parker combined for seven strikeouts against Fordham
• Worrell went 3-for-four aginast Fordham and 1-for-3 against Drake
• Boyle and Devitt have both scored two homeruns already this season
• Boyle leads the team with a .385 average

Up Next 
USF opens day two of the USF tournament Saturday at 11:15 a.m. against Bryant. The teams will be seeded based on tournament results to determine the remaining games Saturday afternoon.

Fans can purchase season tickets for only $65 at USFBullsTix.com or by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls.
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.