TAMPA, Fla., March 22, 2025 – The University of South Florida softball team battled East Carolina inside the USF Softball Stadium on Saturday. The Bulls (27-9, 6-2) fell to the Pirates (18-11, 5-3) in game two of the series 4-1.
Camille Ortiz-Martinez provided the power with her sixth home run of the season. The Bulls have homered in six straight contests.
Alex Wilkes,
Karhys Pierce, and
DaNia Brooks each provided a hit.
With two outs in the top of the second inning, the ECU batter hit a ball into the hole at short.
Alanah Rivera made a sliding backhand and threw the runner out at first to end the top half of the inning.
Ortiz-Martinez recorded the game's first run with a solo home run to right center. It was her sixth homer of the season, giving USF a 1-0 lead after two innings.
ECU tied the game in the top of the third with a run on two hits. The Pirates had runners on second and third, but
Belle Sardja closed the door and held them to just one run.
East Carolina took its first lead of the game on a three-run home run by Annie Kate Dalton in the top of the seventh. The Pirates kept the Bulls off the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh and won 4-1.
Sardja threw a complete game. She struck out six batters with three walks. She surrendered four earned runs on seven hits.
Key Stats:
Notables:
- South Florida has hit a home run in six straight games and has homered in 11 of the last 12 games.
- The USF pitching staff has recorded six or more strikeouts in back-to-back games for the first time this season.
Up Next:
South Florida and East Carolina close out the series on Sunday, March 23, with the pivotal rubber match. The Bulls and Pirates are scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch on ESPN+ and Bulls Unlimited.
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 28th 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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