TAMPA, March 19, 2023 – The University of South Florida softball team ended the South Florida Showdown with a 6-1 loss to the #11/9 Texas Longhorns on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Bulls went to the bottom of the seventh inning with no hits or runs. Freshman Tieley Vaughn (Wesley Chapel) broke up the no-hitter with her first career home run. Alyssa Rano (Seminole) followed with a single.
 
Junior left-handed pitcher, Lexie Kopko (Stewartstown, Pa.) earned her first start of the season in the South Florida Showdown tournament finale. She pitched two innings, allowing one run on 11 batters faced.
 
Freshman Morgan Grubb (Bartow) pitched 1.2 innings and struck out one. Grubb also allowed one run. Jaden Martinez (Tallahassee) pitched 0.2 innings and allowed two runs.
 
Senior Vivian Ponn (Fort Myers), who was originally the designated player, came in to pitch in the fifth inning. Kopko re-entered the game after Ponn pitched 0.2 innings.   
 
Up Next
The Bulls will open American Conference play this Friday, March 24, by welcoming the East Carolina Pirates.
 
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.