TAMPA, March 11, 2025 – The University of South Florida softball team (19-8) earned a pair of wins over Bryant, 11-2, and Central Michigan, 2-1, on Tuesday evening at USF Softball Stadium.
 
GAME ONE | South Florida 11, Bryant 2 (5 innings)
South Florida wasted no time scoring, with Alex Wilkes smacking an RBI-double off the left field wall. A second Bulls run came home after Alanah Rivera drew a bases-loaded walk. A third Bull came home after Dania Brooks hit into a fielder's choice. Brooks proceeded to steal her fourth base of the season, which caused confusion in the Bryant infield, leading to a throwaway error that plated the fourth run of the inning. South Florida drew back-to-back walks to load the bases again but were unable to plate any more runners.
 
Bryant left two runners on base in the second inning, and South Florida made them pay in the bottom half of the inning. Wilkes hit a two-run home run to left-center field, her fourth of the season, giving the Bulls a six-run lead. Then, after South Florida loaded the bases once again, Brooks delivered an RBI-single to extend the lead to seven. Allana Consolazio hit a sacrifice fly to give the Bulls an eight-run lead, before Kathy Garcia-Soto smacked a two-run double down the left field line to increase the lead to 10.
 
The visiting Bulldogs got on the board with a two-run home run off Hannah Marien in the top of the fourth inning. The Bulls responded at the bottom of the inning, with Grace Rawn smacking a home run to left field, the first of her career in her first plate appearance. South Florida took a nine-run lead into the fifth inning, and Marien retired the visitors to secure the victory.
 
GAME TWO: South Florida 2, Central Michigan 1, (8 Innings)
Payton Dixon got off to a dominant start for South Florida on the mound with two strikeouts across three perfect innings pitched. Central Michigan broke into the hit column in the top of the 4th. However, Dixon sat down three straight batters, highlighted by two strikeouts, to hold the Chippewas from scoring in the inning.
 
In the top of the 5th, the Chippewas tailed a run off a Maddie Springer infield knock that scored in the pinch running Ashley Bila. Payton Dixon held Central Michigan to the lone run with a liner back to the mound to end the half inning.
 
Olivia Elliot ended the hitless run after two innings for the Bulls with a two-out solo blast to right centerfield, her third of the season, to tie the game, 1-1. The Green & Gold continued their offensive trend into the 6th with a one-out double by Josie Foreman. Alanah Rivera followed up Foreman with a walk, but they were left on base.
 
After a scoreless 7th inning, Payton Dixon was able to hold the Chippewas in the top of the 8th heading into the bottom of the frame. In an 0-2 count, Alex Wilkes connected on a moonshot blast to left field, the fifth of the season, to secure the Bulls the walk-off victory for the Bulls.
 
 
Key Stats:

• Alex Wilkes produced her sixth multi-RBI performance of the season.
• Alex Wilkes went three-for-three in the Bryant game, her ninth multi-hit game of the season.
• Wilkes was a triple away from the cycle in the game against Bryant.
• Three players had multi-RBI performances against Bryant.
• Rivera has reached base in 12 consecutive games, one shy of her career-high of 13.
• Olivia Elliot grabbed the first run on the night with a solo homer, her third of the season.
• Wilkes home run marked her fifth of the season and first walk-off home run of her career.
• Payton Dixon threw for eight innings, highlighted by seven strikeouts. In the first three innings, she allowed no runs and no hits with two Ks.

 
Notables:

• In the Bryant game, the Bulls equaled their highest run total in the first inning of the season with four runs.
• The Bulls now have 24 home runs this season.
• Anne Long made her seventh start of the season, pitching three scoreless innings.
• Marien made her fourth appearance of the season and recorded a season-high two strikeouts.
• Dharma Murray made her first career appearance as a catcher.
• Rawn recorded her first career hit and her first homerun in the first at-bat of her collegiate career.
• Grace Chin recorded the second hit of her career in just her fourth career at-bat.
• The 11-2 win over Bryant is the first five inning victory since February 15th, 2025, a 13-5 victory over Loyola-Chicago.
• Josie Foreman earned her 30th career double against Central Michigan in the 6th inning.
• Dixon's eight inning performance matched her 8 IP start against North Texas back on March 30th, 2024, the first time a pitcher has thrown over seven innings in a game.
• Alex Wilkes walk-off home run marked the first walk-off homer since March 22nd, 2023, against Texas (Kathy Garcia-Soto).
• The Bulls are 19-0 when leading in hits.

 
Up Next:
South Florida hits the road for a three-game AAC series versus the Charlotte 49ers beginning on Friday, March 14. The first pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
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. 
 
– #GoBulls –