DELAND, Fla., March 19, 2025 – Payton Dixon and Belle Sardja put on a pitching clinic for the University of South Florida softball team against Stetson on Wednesday at Patricia Wilson Field. The Bulls (26-8) produced a two-game sweep of the Hatters (16-16) with a 9-1 (6) victory in game one followed by an 8-0 (5) shutout in game two.
 
Dixon and Sardja combined to pitch 11 innings without giving up an earned run. Dixon went six innings, while Sardja tossed five innings. The pair gave up just six hits on the day. South Florida has recorded run-rule games in three straight contests, the first time since the 2018 season that the Bulls have produced three straight run-rule games.
 
GAME ONE | South Florida 9, Stetson 1 (6 innings)
The Bulls got on the board first in the second inning. Josie Foreman led off the top half of the inning with a single to second. After Alanah Rivera was hit by a pitch, Camille Ortiz-Martinez dropped down a sac bunt to move the runners second and third. Karhys Pierce drove a 2-2 pitch to center for the sac fly.
 
In the top of the third, USF had runners on first and second with one out. Alex Wilkes launched a 2-0 pitch over the left-field wall and put South Florida up 4-0.
 
With two outs in the top of the fourth, DaNia Brooks delivered a double to right field. Kathy Garcia-Soto came up clutch with a two-out double that drove in Brooks.
 
With runners on the corners and one out in the top of the fifth, Rivera dropped down a sac bunt to extend the USF lead to 6-1.
 
Brooks notched her second double of the game to start the top of the sixth. With runners on first and second with one out, Alexa Galligani doubled down the right-field line to score Brooks. Wilkes and Foreman added an RBI as the Bulls took a 9-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth.
 
Dixon started in the circle in game one and was phenomenal. She tallied two strikeouts in six innings of work. She scattered five hits and surrendered one unearned run. She improved to 12-3 on the season.
 
GAME TWO | South Florida 8, Stetson 0 (5 innings)
Elliott led off the top of the first inning with a single through the right side. Galligani reached on a fielder's choice to give the Bulls runners on first and second. Wilkes dropped down a sac bunt and reached on a throwing error. Elliott scored on the error. After Ortiz-Martinez walked to load the bases, Rivera produced a sac fly to right field.
 
The Bulls had runners on the corners in the top of the third inning. Wilkes stole second, and Galligani scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Rivera notched an RBI double to right-center. USF extended its lead to 4-0.
 
With a runner on second and two outs in the top of the fourth, Ortiz-Martinez belted a home run to center field and put the Bulls up 6-0.
 
Brooks led off the top of the fifth inning with a triple to right-center. On the next pitch, Jamia Nelson blasted a two-run home run over the center-field wall. USF went on to win game two 8-0 in five innings.
 
Sardja started in game two and had a no-hitter through 4.1 innings. She gave up one hit and struck out two batters with no walks in the 5.0 innings in the circle. She improved to 9-2 on the season.
 
Key Stats:

• The Bulls have produced 12 or more hits in three straight contests, with the 12 hits in game one.
• South Florida has recorded run-rule games in three straight contests, the first time since the 2018 season that the Bulls have produced three straight run-rule games.
• Alexa Galligani scored a total of six times, three in each game. It was the fourth time this season that she scored three times in a game.

Notables:

• The Bulls recorded five doubles on the day, extending their season total to 60, which is inside the top three in the NCAA.
• Camille Ortiz-Martinez extended her hitting streak to eight games.
• Olivia Elliott has reached base safely in 10 straight games.
• With two doubles in game one, DaNia Brooks tied for the most doubles in a single game by a Bull this season.
• In game one, Alex Wilkes recorded her team-leading seventh home run.
• The Bulls have recorded eight games with multiple home runs.
• With triples by DaNia Brooks and Alexa Galligani in game two, South Florida produced the most triples in a game this season.

 
Up Next:
The Bulls return to the friendly confines of the USF Softball Stadium on Friday, March 21. South Florida welcomes East Carolina for another American Athletic Conference series. All three games will be available on ESPN+. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
Tickets:
Tickets to watch Bulls softball at the USF Softball Stadium may be purchased by calling 1-800-GoBulls or clicking HERE.
 
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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).
 
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