WICHITA, Kan., March 28, 2025 – The University of South Florida softball team was back in action on Friday for game one of a three-game series against Wichita State.
Alanah Rivera hit her third home run of the season, but the Bulls (28-10, 7-3) fell to the Shockers (17-16, 5-5) 9-4 inside Wilkins Stadium.
Camille Ortiz-Martinez led South Florida with two hits and drove in one run. Rivera finished the game 1-for-2 at the plate with a home run and two walks.
Sam Walz picked up USF's other hit in her lone plate appearance.
Payton Dixon started in the circle for USF and went 3.2 innings. She stuck out three batters. She gave up seven earned runs on six hits.
Alex Wright added 0.2 innings in relief and surrendered two earned runs.
Anne Long closed out the game with 1.2 innings. She did not give up a hit and had one walk.
The Shockers got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second. They scored three runs on three hits. Wichita State added five runs in the home half of the fourth. Four of the five runs came on back-to-back home runs.
Olivia Elliott and
Alexa Galligani were hit by a pitch with one out in the top of the fifth inning to give the Bulls runners on first and second.
Alex Wilkes reached on a fielder's choice and loaded the bases.
Josie Foreman put the Bulls on the scoreboard with a sac fly to right field.
With runners on the corners, Wilkes and Galligani perfectly executed the double steal. Wilkes stole second, and Galligani stole home. After
Alanah Rivera drew a walk, Ortiz-Martinez broke up the no-hitter with an RBI single through the left side. The Bulls cut the Shockers' lead to 8-3 after four and a half innings of play.
Wichita State added a run in the bottom of the fifth on a sac fly and extended its lead to 9-3.
With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Rivera kept the Bulls alive with a solo home run to left field. The Bulls could not cut the deficit more and fell to the Shockers 9-4.
Notables:
Up Next:
The Bulls and the Shockers are back in action on Saturday for game two of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
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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