TAMPA, Fla., May 6, 2025 – Home, sweet home?
Coach
Ken Eriksen's No. 2-seeded USF Bulls (41-14-1) are counting on that advantage during the American Athletic Conference Tournament at the USF Softball Stadium.
The Bulls, who received a bye into Friday afternoon's semifinals and need two victories to clinch the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since 2022, were 29-7 overall in regular-season home games and enter AAC Tournament play with a 10-game home winning streak.
"Home-field advantage is obviously something everyone wants,'' center fielder
Alexa Galligani said. "It brings us such pride and joy to win our field. Our fans are just awesome. When we look into the stands, we know they're 100 percent behind us, and that's a big part of the USF softball culture. We're incredibly excited to have the tournament here at USF.''
If the seeds hold up, the Bulls could have a Saturday afternoon championship-game meeting against the No. 1-seeded Florida Atlantic Owls (43-9), who took two of three games against USF during the regular-season series at Boca Raton on April 4-6.
"I think it's going to be an amazing experience,'' left fielder
Alex Wilkes said. "We respond to that home atmosphere. If we play to our capabilities, we'll be celebrating a championship on our home field, and that's a huge goal.''
USF last hosted the AAC Tournament in 2023 and fell 2-0 against the UCF Knights in the semifinals. Six current Bulls were part of that moment.
"It was devastating,'' outfielder
Allana Consolazio said. "We remember what that felt like, and we never want to feel like that ever again. You want to be playing your best softball at the end of the season, and that's what you work toward.''
The Bulls made a powerful statement during the regular season, tying a program record with 49 home runs, including USF's first trio to reach 10 or more homers —
Camille Ortiz-Martinez (10),
Josie Foreman (10), and Wilkes (10). Foreman has 21 career homers, good for ninth place on USF's career list.
The Bulls are batting .327 as a team, paced by
Olivia Elliott (.363), Galligani (.362), Foreman (.353),
Jamia Nelson (.341), Wilkes (.331), Ortiz-Martinez (.327),
Karhys Pierce (.326),
Alanah Rivera (.324) and
DaNia Brooks (.319).
The pitching staff is led by
Payton Dixon (19-6, 2.63 ERA) and
Belle Sardja (14-4, 1.90).
"Only four of us on this team have experienced what it's like to play in an NCAA Regional (in 2022),'' Foreman said. "It's like nothing else. It just makes you hungry to get back there and do whatever it takes to get to that point. So we will be ready to put it all out there on the field and do what we need to do.''
Tickets:
Tickets to watch Bulls softball at the USF Softball Stadium may be purchased by calling 1-800-GoBulls or clicking
HERE.
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).
Be sure to follow USF softball on social media (X / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
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