TAMPA, Fla., April 11, 2025 – The University of South Florida softball team started Alumni Weekend on Friday against Tulsa inside the USF Softball Stadium. The Bulls (31-12-1, 10-5-1) relied on plate discipline and solid pitching as they defeated the Golden Hurricane (18-22, 6-10) 6-1.
Alex Wilkes led the Bulls with a 2-for-4 day at the plate with an RBI.
Alexa Galligani extended her hitting streak to six games and her on-base streak to nine games. She finished with a hit and two RBIs.
The duo of
Payton Dixon and
Belle Sardja were stout inside the circle for USF. Dixon got the start and went 4.0 innings in the winning effort. She improved to 15-5 on the season. She struck out one batter and surrendered one earned run. Sardja was dominant in her 3.0 innings of relief as she recorded her sixth season save.
The Golden Hurricane scored the game's first run on an RBI single in the top of the second.
The Bulls ended the top of the fourth inning with a fancy double play up the middle. A ground ball was hit up the middle with a runner on first.
Alanah Rivera was there for the glove flip to
Kathy Garcia-Soto, who fired to first to send the game to the bottom of the fourth.
Wilkes started the home half of the fourth inning with a lead-off single through the left side. After
Josie Foreman moved Wilkes to second on a sac bunt, Rivera gave the Bulls runners on the corners with a single to third base.
Grace Chin entered the game as a pinch runner and then stole second. Chin tied the game on a wild pitch with two outs.
Jamia Nelson singled up the middle to give South Florida a 2-1 lead.
DaNia Brooks, Garcia-Soto,
Olivia Elliott, and Galligani drew four consecutive walks, which led to two USF runs. Wilkes lined a 2-2 pitch into center field and put the Bulls on top 5-1 after four innings of play.
Garcia-Soto drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the sixth inning. After a ground out moved Garcia-Soto to second, Galligani delivered with an RBI single to left field. The Bulls went on to win 6-1.
Key Stats:
- Belle Sardja recorded her sixth save of the season. She is tied for fifth in the USF single-season saves list and moved into lone possession of fourth on the all-time career saves list with 12.
- The Bulls turned their 22nd double play of the season and moved into the top 10 in the NCAA.
Notables:
- Payton Dixon improved to 15-5 on the season inside the circle.
- Alexa Galligani extended her hitting streak to six games and her on-base streak to nine games.
- The Bulls are 28-0-1 when they record more hits than their opponents.
Up Next:
South Florida and Tulsa return to the diamond on Saturday for game two of the series. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. 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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