TAMPA (May 11, 2018) – USF defeated Memphis, 8-7, with a two-out walk-off win in The American Semifinals on Friday evening.
 
USF (38-20) was ready to go against Memphis (37-21), batting through the order in the first inning. Senior Lauren Evans (Land O' Lakes, Fla.) sparked the heat with a single to right field. It was her first at-bat after hitting the RBI single that gave the Bulls the win in the 12-inning quarterfinal walk-off win on Thursday night. Junior Macy Cook (Uniontown, Ohio) highlighted the inning with a three-run bomb over the left field fence, her second home run of the season.
 
Memphis scored four runs in the fourth inning, taking a 6-4 lead, but USF began their comeback in the bottom of the frame with a run by Jasmine Haynes (Ocala, Fla.). The freshman reached first on a muffed throw by the first baseman, and Evans was hit by a pitch to advance Haynes to second. Astin Donovan's (Guilford, Conn.) sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, and Haynes scored on a fielder's choice by junior Lindsey Devitt (Jacksonville, Fla.).
 
Memphis extended its lead to 7-5 when they scored one run in the fifth, but USF added two runs in the bottom of the inning. Senior Cassidy Boyle (Buchanan, N.Y.) hit a solo home run with one out. Evans singled to right field to score sophomore AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Pa.) who got on base with an infield single.
 
The teams remained tied through the bottom of the seventh until Boyle's single up the middle set up for pinch runner Kyndall Williams (Trenton, Fla.) to score on a two-out RBI single to right field by junior Samantha Worrell.
 
Key Stat
10 – USF reached double-digit hits with 10
7 – Both teams stranded 7 runners
 
Notable

• Eight different Bulls scored runs
• Lauren Evans had a perfect 2-for-2 day at the plate
• Cassidy Boyle went 2-for-3 in her eighth multi-hit game of the season
• Macy Cook had her fourth multi-RBI game with three from her home run
• USF advances to the championship game for the second time in league history, and second time in the last three years
• The game will be a rematch of the 2016 championship with USF and Tulsa. In that game, No. 3 Tulsa defeated No. 2 USF

 
Up Next
 No. 1 USF will take on No. 6 Tulsa at Noon tomorrow. The game will air live on ESPN2.
 
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 13 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women's College World Series in 2012.