DENTON, Texas, April 25, 2025 –
Josie Foreman provided a jolt for the University of South Florida softball team against North Texas on Friday, inside Lovelace Stadium.
Belle Sardja recorded her ninth save and broke the USF single-season saves record as the Bulls (37-13-1, 16-5-1) defeated the Mean Green (33-15, 15-7) 4-2.
With a home run in today's game, Foreman moved into a tie for 10th place on the USF career home run list after she hit her 19th home run. She went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in two runs.
Olivia Elliott and
Alexa Galligani both went 2-for-4. Elliott extended her hitting streak to 10 games. Galligani has reached base safely in 16 straight games. With her single,
Alanah Rivera has reached base safely in 10 games.
Payton Dixon got the start in the circle and earned the win. She improved to 18-6. She went 6.0 innings and gave up two unearned runs. Sardja closed out the game for her ninth save of the season. She broke the single-season save record, passing Sara Nevins (2011). She struck out one batter in the 1.0 inning of relief.
Foreman led off the top of the second inning with a home run to center. Ortiz-Martinez recorded a one-out single down the right field line.
Jamia Nelson followed with a four-pitch walk.
Grace Chin came into the game to pinch run for Ortiz-Martinez at second.
DaNia Brooks singled up the middle to load the bases for the Bulls.
Kathy Garcia-Soto drove a ball against the center-field wall for a sac fly. The Bulls took a 2-0 lead into the bottom half of the second inning.
Elliott led off the top of the fifth inning with a single to center field. After she moved to second on a wild pitch, Galligani delivered an RBI single to left center. South Florida took a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning.
Galligani led off the top of the seventh inning with a double to left field. Foreman gave the Bulls an insurance run with an RBI single up the middle. USF held a 4-0 lead as the game went to the bottom of the seventh.
North Texas did not go down quietly and cut the deficit in half, 4-2. The Mean Green had runners on second and third, but Sardja closed the game as the Bulls won 4-2.
Key Stats:
- The Bulls are 34-0-1 when they record more hits than their opponents.
- South Florida improved to 19-0-1 when they tally 10 or more hits.
- Josie Foreman hit her eighth home run of the season. It is her 19th career home run, which moved her into a tie for 10th all-time at USF.
- Belle Sardja recorded her ninth save of the season. She broke the single-season save record.
Notables:
- Alexa Galligani has reached base safely in 16 straight games.
- Olivia Elliott extended her hitting streak to 10 games.
- Kathy Garcia-Soto collected four assists, moving her season total to 118. She remains inside the top 10 in the nation in assists.
Up Next:
The Bulls and Mean Green return to the field for game two on Saturday, April 26. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET inside Lovelace Stadium.
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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#GoBulls –
