TAMPA, Fla. (February 21, 2026) –
Alex Wilkes and
Kiley Strott both went 2-for-3 at the plate for the University of South Florida softball team on Saturday. South Florida extended its winning streak to eight games as the Bulls (13-4) cruised to a 7-1 win over the Eagles (5-9).
Wilkes led the Bulls with three RBIs and two runs scored. She recorded her sixth multi-RBI and sixth multi-hit games. She tied Strott for the game-high with two hits. Strott added an RBI.
Kathy Garcia-Soto recorded a hit and extended her streak of reaching base safely to 12 games. Defensively, the Bulls turned a season-high three double plays.
How It Happened
The Bulls' defense showed out early in the first inning with two phenomenal plays. Garcia-Soto continues to show why she is one of the best defensive players in the country with a diving stop on a hard-hit ball to third. Two batters later,
Alex Wilkes snagged a line drive and threw out the base runner trying to return to first, ending the inning with a double play.
The bats got hot early as
Alexa Galligani doubled down the left-field line.
Olivia Elliott followed with a single to left field. Wilkes lined the first pitch she saw into center field. The Boston College center fielder could not make the diving catch, allowing Wilkes to speed around the bases for an inside-the-park home run. USF took a 3-0 lead into the second.
South Florida turned its second double play of the game in the top of the second inning.
Hannah Marien struck out the next batter to end the top half of the inning.
Abbie DeWaters led off the bottom of the second inning with a single to center.
Toryn Fulton moved DeWaters to second with a sacrifice bunt.
Grace Chin pinch-ran for DeWaters. Garcia-Soto hit an RBI double to right-center. She then stole second and scored on a catcher's throwing error. The Bulls led 5-0 after two innings.
Boston College loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth inning. Marien limited the Eagles to one run, and the Bulls took a 5-1 lead into the bottom half of the inning.
DeWaters led off the home half of the fourth and reached on a fielding error by the left fielder. Fulton followed with a walk. Garcia-Soto moved the runner to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Galligani grounded out to the second baseman, scoring DeWaters from third. The Bulls reclaimed a five-run lead, 6-1, as the game went to the fifth.
Wilkes led off the home half of the sixth with a double to left.
Kiley Strott extended the USF lead with a single up the middle, scoring Wilkes from second. South Florida took a 7-1 lead into the sixth.
Marien got the start in the circle for the Bulls and went five innings. She struck out four batters and allowed one earned run, improving to 3-0 on the season.
Belle Sardja tossed two innings of scoreless relief, striking out two batters and allowing one hit.
Notables
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Kathy Garcia-Soto recorded a hit and extended her streak of reaching base safely to 12 straight games.
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Alex Wilkes led the Bulls with three RBIs and two runs scored. She recorded her sixth multi-RBI and sixth multi-hit games.
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Hannah Marien earned her third win of the season.
• USF turned a season-high three double plays.
• The Bulls improved to 12-0 when they out-hit their opponents.
• South Florida is 9-0 when it holds opponents to two or fewer runs.
Up Next
The Bulls return to the USF Softball Stadium for two games on day four of the USF Invitational on Sunday, February 22. South Florida faces Colgate at 12:30 p.m. and Indiana at 3 p.m.
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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#GoBulls –
