TAMPA, Feb. 16, 2022 – In the second week of the 2023 softball season, the Bulls will head to the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational hosted by ESPN from February 17-19 at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
 
South Florida plays four well developed teams this weekend: #16/#19 Duke, NR/RV Texas A&M, #8/#9 Virginia Tech, and RV/NR Mississippi State.
 
The team is coming off a 2-3 first weekend at the USF-Rawlings Invitational, including wins against Michigan and Saint Joseph's.
 
Pitcher's Payton Dixon and Jaden Martinez made their collegiate debut's this weekend and proved there is life after Georgina Corrick. Combined, they have pitched 20.1 innings of the Bulls total 37.0 innings. They have a 0.00 ERA, 10 hits, one unearned run, 15 strikeouts, and three walks.
 
In the American, six more Bulls lead the conference in seven other statistical categories. Kathy Garcia-Soto leads in hit-by-pitch per game. Hallie Bryant and Marissa Trivelpiece are tied in sacrifice flies. Emilee Hanlon and Megan Pierro lead in two categories. Hanlon leads in stolen bases and stolen bases per game, while Pierro leads in triples and triples per game. Gabriella Nori is leading in strikeouts per seven innings.
 

Round Up for the Opponents
 
#16/#19 Duke (3-2)
Date: Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 at 1 PM
Watch: ACCN
Series vs. Duke:  The first ever meeting between the two programs.
Notable Information:

• In the opening weekend Deja Davis was Duke's most notable hitter, her batting average was .429 with eight runs and four doubles.
• In the opening weekend Jala Wright was the Blue Devil's most used pitcher. She struck out 21 batters in her 18 innings pitched.

 
NR/RV Texas A&M (6-1)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at 10:30 AM
Watch: SECN
Series vs. Texas A&M: Texas A&M leads, 5-0
Notable Information:

• Texas A&M's most used pitcher at their own Invitational was Emily Leavitt who struck out 12 for the 11.1 innings pitched.
• Trinity Cannon managed a batting average of .667 and achieved 11 runs for her 12 at bats. This includes two doubles, one home run, and six runs batted in.

 
#8/#9 Virginia Tech (4-2)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023 at 12 PM
Watch: ESPN+
Series vs. Virginia Tech: USF leads, 4-2
Notable Information:

• Virginia Tech's most productive pitcher last weekend was Emma Lemley, with a record of 2-0, she struck out 16 batters in her 12 innings pitched.
• Jayme Bailey batted a .714 in the first weekend a season. She hit a double, a triple, and a home run.

 
RV/NR Mississippi State (3-2)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023 at 3:30 PM
Watch: ESPN+
Series vs. Mississippi State: Mississippi leads, 3-2
Notable Information:

• The most recent game between the two was the 2022 NCAA Regionals where the Bulldogs ended South Florida's season.
• Macy Graf is Mississippi State's notable hitter, she had a .636 batting average. She score five runs for seven hits for her only 11 at bats.

 
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 16 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women's College World Series in 2012.