TAMPA, Fla. (February 18, 2026) – The University of South Florida softball team battled Stetson in a doubleheader on Wednesday.
Alexa Galligani and
Kathy Garcia-Soto led USF with five hits apiece, while
Toryn Fulton hit two home runs. The Bulls (10-4) defeated the Hatters (8-3) 4-3 (10) and 8-5 at USF Softball Stadium.
Galligani and Garcia-Soto led the Bulls with five hits. Garcia-Soto led the team with three doubles and scored four runs. Fulton led the team with four RBIs, with all four runs coming on two home runs. It was her first multi-home run performance of her career. She extended her hitting streak to five games.
Olivia Elliott produced four hits and extended her streak of reaching safely to 13 games.
Game One: South Florida 4, Stetson 3 (10)
Garcia-Soto got the Bulls started in the bottom of the first with a double to left-center.
Alexa Galligani dropped a perfect bunt for a single and moved Garcia-Soto to third. Galligani stole second, and a throwing error by the catcher allowed Garcia-Soto to score from third. Elliott placed a bunt just in front of the plate for a single. Another throwing error by the catcher allowed Galligani to score from third. The Bulls held a 2-0 lead after one inning.
The Hatters tied the game in the bottom of the second inning. Stetson scored two runs on two hits, aided by one USF error. The game was tied 2-2 after two innings.
Garcia-Soto produced a one-out double to left-center in the home half of the fifth inning. Two batters later, Elliott notched an RBI single to center field, giving USF a 3-2 lead after five innings.
The Hatters tied the game in the top of the sixth on a run with one hit. Stetson had bases loaded and could have scored more, but
Anne Long closed the door.
Galligani singled to the right side with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning. Elliott followed with a single to the shortstop.
Alex Wilkes reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Galligani to score from second and giving the Bulls the 4-3 walk-off victory.
The South Florida defense turned in several web gems, including a double play with an outfield assist and another with a lineout on the infield. USF recorded two double plays in game one.
Carley Ernst got the start in the circle and pitched two innings. She allowed two runs, only one of which was earned. She struck out one batter.
Hannah Marien tossed three innings in relief, striking out three. She surrendered one earned run.
Belle Sardja went 1/3 of an inning. Long closed out the game with 4 2/3 innings. She allowed just two hits and struck out one batter. She earned the win and improved to 3-2 on the year.
Game Two: South Florida 8, Stetson 5
Game two began as a pitcher's duel. Stetson scored four runs on four hits in the top of the third inning. The runs were the first earned runs surrendered by
McKenna Schroding in 16 innings.
The Bulls had her back in the home half of the third. Garcia-Soto led off with a single up the middle. After Galligani singled and Elliott sacrificed, the Bulls had runners at second and third with one out.
Alex Wilkes cut the lead in half with a single up the middle that scored two runs. Two batters later,
Kiley Strott singled down the left field line to drive in a run and cut the deficit to 4-3 after three innings.
Fulton led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run to left center, tying the game. Garcia-Soto belted her third double of the day to keep the momentum going for USF. Galligani moved Garcia-Soto to third with a sacrifice bunt. Elliott grounded out to first, picking up an RBI as Garcia-Soto scored from third. The Bulls took a 5-4 lead into the fifth.
Karhys Pierce drew a five-pitch walk with one out to start a rally in the bottom of the fifth.
Kacey Wilkes reached on a fielding error by the center fielder and put runners on the corners with one out. Fulton launched her second home run of the game, giving the Bulls an 8-4 lead.
The Hatters scored a run on a solo home run by Nicole Edmiaston in the top of the sixth. Fulton ended Stetson's at-bat in the top of the stanza with a diving catch on a sinking line drive.
Bella Sardja entered the game to pitch in the top of the sixth inning. She retired the side in order and earned her second save of the season. Schroding picked up her third win of the season. She went six innings, striking out five batters and allowing five earned runs.
Notables
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Alexa Galligani led the Bulls with a .625 batting average and five hits.
•
Toryn Fulton recorded her first multi-home run game of her career. She extended her hitting streak to five games.
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Kathy Garcia-Soto led the team with three doubles and scored four runs. She has reached base safely in nine straight games.
•
Karhys Pierce extended her hitting streak to five games.
•
Olivia Elliott produced four hits and extended her streak of reaching base to 13 games.
•
Belle Sardja recorded her second save of the season.
•
McKenna Schroding improved to 3-0 on the season.
• The Bulls improved to 7-2 in games that went 10 or more innings.
Up Next
The Bulls open the USF Invitational on Thursday, February 19, with South Florida facing Saint Joseph's at 6:05 p.m. 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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