TAMPA, Fla., February 15, 2025 – The University of South Florida softball team (9-2) will play in the finals of the Fonseca Memorial Tournament after earning a pair of wins over St. John's and Loyola Chicago on Saturday at the USF Softball Stadium. The Bulls defeated the Red Storm 5-0 before run-ruling the Ramblers 13-1 in five innings.
 
With the wins, the No. 1 seeded South Florida Bulls will take on the No. 3 seeded Penn State Nittany Lions tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. in the finals of the Fonseca Memorial Tournament on Sunday.  
 
Game One | St. John's 0, South Florida 5
The Bulls earned the No. 1 seed in the Fonseca Memorial Tournament after a 5-0 win over St. John's. Payton Dixon threw a one-hit complete game shutout and struck out seven batters. The last time a USF pitcher threw a one-hit complete game shutout was Belle Sardja against Wichita State last season.
 
South Florida scored a run in the first inning on Alex Wilkes' 10^th RBI of the week. Camille Ortiz-Martinez hit a solo home run three innings later, her second in just as many days.
 
The final three runs came off a bases-loaded single from Jocelyn Wilkes for her season's first hit.
 
Game Two | Loyola Chicago 1, South Florida 13 (5 innings)
South Florida scored a run every inning, with four in the second and seven in the fourth. A bases-clearing triple from Alexa Galligani highlighted the second inning.
 
Sydnie Whitaker, Alicea Pepitone, and Dharma Murray made their first plate appearances of the season in the fourth inning. For Murray and Whitaker, it was the first of their career.
 
Pepitone earned her first career hit and RBI with a double that brought in two runs to grow the Bulls' lead to 12-1.
 
Belle Sardja threw a complete game, striking out two batters. It was her 36^th complete game of her career and the second of the season.
 
Key Stats:

• Alex Wilkes has recorded 11 RBI this week.
• Ortiz-Martinez has a home run in two of the last three games.
• Dixon tossed her 21^st career complete game and her 10^th shutout.
• Sardja tossed her 36^th career complete game.
• In the last five games, the Bulls have scored 26 runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
• In the last five games, the Bulls are outscoring their opponents 44-8.
• South Florida has run-ruled opponents in three of the last four games.

 
 
Notables:

• The Bulls extend their win streak to six games.
• The Bulls outscored their opponents 18-1 today.
• Jocelyn Wilkes recorded her first three RBI of the season.
• Dixon and Sardja threw complete games.
• Whitaker and Murray made their collegiate debut.
• Pepitone earned her first career hit and RBI.

 
Up Next:
South Florida will face the No. 3-seeded Penn State Nittany Lions tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. for the finals of the Fonseca Memorial Tournament at USF. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
Tickets:
Tickets to watch Bulls softball at the USF Softball Stadium may be purchased by calling 1-800-GoBulls or clicking HERE.
 
About USF Softball
The South Florida softball program has been one of the most successful on campus, making 17 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women's College World Series in 2012. Under head coach Ken Eriksen, who enters his 28^th season in 2025 and has accumulated 1,117 wins, ranking seventh among active DI head softball coaches, USF has produced 10 NFCA All-Americans, two USA Softball Top 10 Player of the Year, and one NFCA Pitcher of the Year. In 2022, Georgina Corrick became the first player in softball history to earn the NCAA Pitching Triple Crown. She led the nation in ERA (0.51), Victories (37), and total strikeouts (418).
 
Be sure to follow USF softball on social media (X / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.