Rivera, Garcia-Soto Lead USF Softball at the Plate in a 5-1 Win Over Tulsa

Saturday, April 12

Tampa, Fla.

4:30 p.m.

University of South Florida

32-12-1, 11-5-1

Tulsa

18-23, 6-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Tulsa	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	7	0
South Florida	0	0	0	3	2	0	X	5	9	1

Photo by: Stephen Galvin / University of South Florida Athletics

Rivera, Garcia-Soto Lead USF Softball at the Plate in a 5-1 Win Over Tulsa

April 12, 2025 | Softball

Box Score

South Florida outhit Tulsa and is now 29-0-1 in games it outhits the opponents

By: Chad Smith

TAMPA, Fla., April 12, 2025 – Alanah Rivera and Kathy Garcia-Soto led the University of South Florida softball team with two hits in Saturday's game against Tulsa. The Bulls (32-12-1, 11-5-1) had five players score in the 5-1 victory against the Golden Hurricane (18-23, 6-12).

Rivera extended her hitting streak to four games with a two-hit performance. Garcia-Soto produced her second multi-hit game of the season with two hits. Four different hitters tallied RBIs. Alexa Galligani drew two walks and extended her streak of reaching base safely to 10 games.

Belle Sardja picked up her 12th win of the season and improved to 12-4 inside the circle. She went 6.0 innings in the start. She struck out four batters and allowed just one earned run. Payton Dixon closed out the game with an inning in relief. She struck out two batters and gave up one hit.

Sardja was dealing early as she retired the first 11 batters in order. Between the second and third innings, she struck out four straight batters. She did not give up a hit until two outs in the top of the fourth inning.

.@BSardja is dealing in the circle!!! That's four straight strikeouts!! ??: https://t.co/MuVtnrzQIC#HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/vNnbUnT3SM
— USF Softball (@USFSoftball) April 12, 2025

Rivera led off the bottom of the fourth with a single to the shortstop. Grace Chin pinch ran for Rivera and was thrown out trying to steal second base. Camille Ortiz-Martinez and Jamia Nelson were both hit by pitches. Brooks drove a ball in the right-center gap for an RBI double. Garcia-Soto followed with an RBI double to left. Elliott notched a sac fly to give the Bulls a 3-0 lead after four innings of play.

.@Kathygarcia_21 drives in another run for the Bulls!! ??: https://t.co/MuVtnrziT4#HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/bHaDRW8NR3
— USF Softball (@USFSoftball) April 12, 2025

Rivera got things started for USF in the home half of the fifth inning with a single through the left side. After she stole second, Ortiz-Martinez produced an RBI double to left center. Sam Walz singled to the pitcher and moved Ortiz-Martinez to third. Grace Rawn entered the game as a pinch runner for Ortiz-Martinez. Walz and Rawn executed a perfect double steal. South Florida took a 5-0 lead into the sixth inning.

.@CNahir12 with the RBI double to left center!! ??: https://t.co/MuVtnrziT4#HornsUp?? pic.twitter.com/9YwTkkhCIS
— USF Softball (@USFSoftball) April 12, 2025

The Golden Hurricane got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI single from Celeste Wood. The Bulls went on to win the game 5-1.

Key Stats:

With three hitters hit by a pitch, the Bulls have been hit 47 times this season, which is inside the top five in the NCAA.
The South Florida pitching staff has only allowed one walk in three straight games.

Notables:

Belle Sardja has 12 wins inside the circle this season and 26 for her career.
Alexa Galligani drew two walks and extended her streak of reaching base safely to 10 games.
The Bulls are 29-0-1 when they record more hits than their opponents.

Up Next:
The Bulls and the Golden Hurricane return to action for the series finale on Sunday. USF is aiming for a sweep. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 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.

Follow us:
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF Softball news, follow the Bulls on social media (X / Facebook / Instagram).

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).

– #GoBulls –