TAMPA, Fla. (February 12, 2026) – The University of South Florida used timely hitting and a strong bullpen to come back and defeat Indiana State on Thursday.
Karhys Pierce led USF with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate as the Bulls (5-3) extended their winning streak to three games with a 4-2 victory over the Sycamores (2-5) inside the USF Softball Stadium.
Pierce recorded her third multi-hit game of the season with three singles. She drove in one run.
Alex Wilkes led the team with two RBIs. She extended her hitting streak to five games.
Jamia Nelson drove in a run with a double off the center-field wall. With a walk in today's game,
Olivia Elliott extended her streak of reaching base safely to seven games.
How It Happened
The Sycamores jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
The Bulls rallied in the home half of the third inning. Elliott drew a five-pitch walk with one out.
Kathy Garcia-Soto singled through the left side to put runners on first and second.
Alexa Galligani was hit by a pitch to load the bases for USF. Wilkes lined a single to right-center that drove in two runs. Nelson followed with a double to deep center field, plating another run for the Bulls. Pierce drove in the fourth run of the inning with a single to left field. South Florida took a 4-2 lead into the fourth.
The game became a pitchers' duel as neither team scored the rest of the way.
Hannah Marien threw six scoreless innings of relief.
Belle Sardja came in to close out the game for the Bulls, needing just one pitch to induce a double play. South Florida claimed a 4-2 victory.
Carley Ernst started the game for the Bulls and pitched 1/3 of an inning. She surrendered two runs, one of which was earned. Marien recorded one strikeout in her six innings of relief. She scattered three hits. Sardja faced one batter, threw one pitch, and earned the save.
Notables
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Karhys Pierce recorded her third multi-hit game of the season, going 3-for-3 at the plate.
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Alex Wilkes extended her hitting streak to five games and has reached base safely in six straight games.
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Jamia Nelson recorded her fifth RBI of the season.
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Olivia Elliott extended her streak of reaching base safely to seven games.
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Belle Sardja earned her first save of the season.
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Hannah Marien recorded her first win of the season.
• The Bulls improved to 5-0 when they out-hit the opponents.
Up Next
The Bulls are back at home for day two of The Fonseca Memorial Tournament on Friday. South Florida faces Kansas at 4:35 p.m. and Yale at 7:05 p.m. Both games will be on ESPN+.
Tickets:
Season tickets for the upcoming softball season are now available, starting at $65. Fans may also add a general admission baseball season ticket for an additional $25, providing access to all home baseball games. For more information or to purchase season tickets, visit the official website at gousfbulls.com or contact the ticket office at 1-800-Go-Bulls or click
HERE.
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About USF Softball
The South Florida softball program has been one of the most successful on campus, making 18 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women's College World Series in 2012. Under head coach Ken Eriksen, who enters his 29th season in 2026 and has accumulated 1,171 wins, ranking seventh among active DI head softball coaches, USF has produced 10 NFCA All-Americans, two USA Softball Top 10 Players 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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