Photo Credit: Bradley Walker NGSC Sports
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Before the USF Bulls vs Oregan State Beavers there was a game concluding. That game was between the Michigan Wolverines and Florida Gators. The game went extra innings in a back-and-forth battle. The game ended in the 10th and once the Florida Gators flew out to right field the Michigan faithful erupted. The weather was nice for the game in the mid to upper 70s with a nice breeze and not a cloud in a beautiful blue sky. The USF Bulls started the season with a 3-0 start. Something special is happening on the USF campus as most of the teams have started so well. The Oregan State Beavers came in wearing all-black uniforms with orange visors. The Bulls came in all-white uniforms with green visors. The first pitch took place at 5:10 p.m.
From their respective dugouts, both teams cheered for the players on the field. Oregon State struck early as first baseman Lici Campbell hit a home run to left to give the Beavers an early 1-0 lead. Just like in baseball, there is a pitch clock in college softball. The Bulls struggled at the plate through the first two innings they did not get anything close to a hit.
Oregon State got a double from left fielder Paige Doerr in the top of the third inning. Doerr would come around to score as shortstop Savanah Whatley got a single to increase the lead to 2-0 Beavers. After allowing another hit to second baseman Kiki Escobar, starting pitcher Belle Sardja was relieved for Julia Apostolakos. She got the Bulls out of a jam with the base loaded when she got a pop-out to end the top half of the inning.
The USF Bulls’ first hit came on what they call a slap hit from second baseman Kathy Garcia-Soto. The next Bulls hitter, center fielder Jordyn Kadlub, got a bunt and for the first time, USF had a runner in scoring position. Unfortunately, the rally would end on a base running blunder and one hitter later we were halfway through the game.
The Bulls finally showed some life. That momentum carried over as the first basemen Marissa Trivelpiece got an inning-ending double play. The USF offense continued to struggle as Logan Hulon kept them in check. That was until the Bulls got their first extra-base hit from catcher Camille Martinez. Alyssa Rano pitch ran for Martinez to add some speed to the base paths. Rano would come around and score USF’s first run which brought the score to 2-1.
Oregon State reclaimed its two-run lead in the top of the sixth. That chased Bulls pitcher Julia Apostolakos. The Bulls then went to center fielder Jordyn Kadlub. The Beavers busted in wide open in the top of the sixth. The Beavers scored four runs on a couple of fielding errors for USF. Oregon State increased the lead to 6-1. With that, the Bulls made yet another pitching change. It came off the rails as a throwing error led to another Beavers run.
In the bottom of the inning, the Beavers were having some fielding troubles. Even so, Logan Hulon got out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the six-run lead heading into the final inning. The game would end on a strikeout and the Bulls would fall for the first time in 2024, 7-1 to the Beavers.
Will the USF Bulls recover from their first loss as they lay the Florida Gators tomorrow? Leave a comment below.
For all your NCAA softball news log on to NGSCsports.com.
For more follow me on Facebook: Bradley Louis Walker, On X: bradwalker3083, and my weekly sports podcast: The Walker Report.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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