Softball 2025 AAC Tournament Champions
4
North Texas UNT 36-21
5
Winner South Florida USF 43-14-1
North Texas UNT
36-21
4
Final
5
South Florida USF
43-14-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
North Texas UNT 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 7 0
South Florida USF 0 0 0 2 0 3 X 5 6 1

W: Sardja, Belle (16-4) L: Anneca Anderson (14-7)

Game Recap: Softball | | Chad Smith

USF Softball Wins Its First AAC Tournament Title with a Thrilling Comeback Win Against North Texas

The Bulls punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament as they defeated the Mean Green on Saturday

TAMPA, Fla., May 10, 2025 – The University of South Florida softball team won its first-ever American Athletic Conference Tournament Championship on Saturday inside the USF Softball Stadium. Belle Sardja was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. The Bulls (43-14-1) defeated the North Texas Mean Green (36-21) 5-4 in comeback fashion.
 
Under Coach Eriksen's guidance, the Bulls claimed their eighth conference title, including the regular season and tournaments. The USF softball program has nine conference trophies in the trophy case. Sardja was joined by DaNia Brooks, Kathy Garcia-Soto, Karhys Pierce, and Alex Wilkes on the AAC All-Tournament Team.
 
The Bulls were down to their final six outs as the game headed to the bottom of the sixth inning. Wilkes led off the inning with a home run to left center. After Josie Foreman drew a five-pitch walk, Allana Consolazio entered as a pinch runner. Alanah Rivera reached on a fielder's choice as Consolazio was out at second.  
With one out and a 3-2 count on Camille Ortiz-Martinez, the game entered a weather delay. The game resumed after a 1-hour and 27-minute delay. Ortiz-Martinez saw one pitch and drew a walk. Pierce delivered an RBI double to left center to tie the game at 4-4. After a pitching change, Brooks belted the first pitch to deep right field. Ortiz-Martinez tagged up from third and scored as Brooks produced the game-winning run on a sac fly.  
Pierce led the Bulls with two RBIs. Alexa Galligani recorded a hit and extended her streak of reaching base safely to 21 games. Rivera has reached base safely in 17 straight games with her hit today. Ortiz Martinez drew two walks and has reached safely in 14 consecutive contests. Wilkes moved into sixth place on the USF single-season home run list with her home run.
 
Payton Dixon got the start in the circle for the Bulls. She went one inning and surrendered two earned runs on four hits. Anne Long went 3.0 innings in relief. She recorded one strikeout. She allowed two earned runs on two hits. Sardja finished the game and only gave up one hit in 3.0 innings. She improved to 16-4 on the season.
 
The Mean Green got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning with a two-run home run by Elizabeth Moffitt. North Texas added two more runs in the top of the second inning and extended its lead to 4-0.
 
The Bulls were unfazed and kept their focus. Foreman led off the inning in the bottom of the fourth with a double down the right field line. Grace Chin entered the game as a pinch runner. Rivera doubled to center and drove in the first run of the game for USF. Grace Rawn entered to pinch run for Rivera and moved to third on a wild pitch. Pierce produced a sac fly to center with one out as the Bulls cut the deficit to two, 4-2, after four innings of play.
Key Stats:
  • South Florida won its first-ever American Athletic Conference Tournament Title.
  • The Bulls claimed their ninth conference title, counting the regular season and tournaments. Eight of these titles have come during the Ken Eriksen era.
  • The Bulls are 15-2 at home against conference opponents this season.
  • Alex Wilkes moved into sixth on the USF single-season home run list.
 
Notables:
  • Belle Sardja was named the Most Valuable Player for the AAC Tournament.
  • Sardja, DaNia Brooks, Alex Wilkes, Alanah Rivera, and Karhys Pierce earned All-Tournament Team honors.
  • Alexa Galligani extended her streak of reaching base safely to 21 games.
  • Alanah Rivera has reached base safely in 17 consecutive contests.
  • Camille Ortiz-Martinez has reached base safely in 14 straight games.
  • South Florida has recorded 17 come-from-behind victories this season, which moves the Bulls inside the top 10 in the NCAA.
  • The Bulls recorded 31 wins at home. It is the first time since 2012 that USF has recorded 31 wins at home.
 
Up Next:
The Bulls will find out where they are headed during the NCAA Softball Selection Show on Sunday, May 11, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. South Florida earned the AAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The regional will begin on Friday, May 16.
 
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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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 –
 
 
 
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