TAMPA, Fla. (February 22, 2026) –
Alex Wilkes continued to power the University of South Florida softball team. She has homered in four straight games. South Florida extended its winning streak to 10 games and improved to 15-4 on the season after defeating Colgate (5-10) 6-0 and Indiana (10-4) 5-3 on Sunday.
Wilkes made history as the first USF player to hit a home run in four straight games. She hit a two-run homer in game one and followed it with a solo shot in game two. Wilkes went 2-for-5 at the plate with three RBIs and three runs scored. She extended her hitting streak to seven games.
Karhys Pierce and
Jamia Nelson paced the Bulls with three hits apiece. Nelson drove in three runs, and Pierce added an RBI. South Florida is 12-0 when leading after five innings. USF improved to 12-0 when it does not allow a home run. The Bulls improved to 13-0 when they out-hit their opponents. South Florida is 10-0 when it holds opponents to two or fewer runs.
Game One: South Florida 6, Colgate 0
In the top of the first inning, the USF defense made several great plays to keep Colgate off the scoreboard despite the Raiders loading the bases with one out.
Kathy Garcia-Soto snagged a line drive in the hole between third and short.
Alexa Galligani robbed an extra-base hit with a diving play on a sinking liner in right-center field.
Galligani drew a four-pitch walk with one out in the top of the first.
Olivia Elliott moved Galligani to second with a sacrifice bunt. After taking the first pitch, A. Wilkes crushed a two-run home run to left field. The Bulls took a 2-0 lead into the second inning.
Nelson reached on a third baseman's fielding error to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning.
Cali Chapman pinch ran for Nelson. Pierce singled through the left side.
Kiley Strott laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third. Chapman scored from third on a wild pitch, and USF took a 3-1 lead into the fifth.
Galligani led off the home half of the fifth with a single up the middle. Elliott followed with a five-pitch walk. Wilkes moved both runners over with a sac bunt. Nelson drove in two runs with a single to the right side. Pierce extended the USF lead to 6-0 with an RBI double to left center.
McKenna Schroding started the game in the circle for USF. She pitched four innings in the winning effort. She struck out four batters and allowed just two hits.
Carley Ernst earned her second save of the season in three innings of relief. She struck out three batters and gave up just two hits.
Game Two: South Florida 5, Indiana 3
Elliott flashed the leather on a sliding catch to end the top of the first inning for the Hoosiers.
Wilkes led off the bottom of the second inning and reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. Nelson came up big for the Bulls with a double to left center that allowed Wilkes to score from first. Pierce followed with a single to short. With runners on first and second, Strott recorded a sacrifice bunt to move the runners.
Abbie DeWaters extended the USF lead with a sacrifice fly to right field. South Florida held a 2-0 lead after two innings.
In the top of the fourth inning, Garcia-Soto made a diving stop on a line drive to the left side. She collected herself and then threw to first, retiring the batter.
Nelson got things started in the bottom of the fourth with a single to left field. Pierce was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Strott dropped down a bunt single down the first-base line to load the bases. DeWaters reached on a fielder's choice to the pitcher, and a throwing error by the IU catcher allowed Pierce to score from second. Fulton extended the USF lead to 4-0 with a sac fly to left field, as Strott tagged up and scored from third.
Indiana cut the South Florida lead in half with two runs on two hits in the top of the fifth inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, Wilkes blasted her second home run of the day. She put the Bulls up by three, 5-2, as the game headed into the sixth inning.
The Hoosiers had bases loaded with no outs in the top of the seventh inning.
Anne Long induced a ground ball to shortstop. Wilkes turned the double play, limiting IU to just one run. Long struck out the final batter of the game on three straight pitches to secure the 5-3 victory for USF.
Belle Sardja started in the circle and threw 4 1/3 innings in the victory. She struck out one batter and allowed one earned run.
Hannah Marien tossed 1/3 of an inning. Long earned her first career save with 2 1/3 innings of relief. She struck out one batter and gave up one unearned run.
Notables
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Alex Wilkes became the first Bull to hit a home run in four straight games, extending her hitting streak to seven games. She has reached base safely in eight consecutive games.
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McKenna Schroding improved to 4-0 on the season.
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Belle Sardja improved to 3-1 on the season.
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Carley Ernst recorded her second save of the season.
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Anne Long earned her first save of the season.
• South Florida is 12-0 when leading after five innings.
• USF improved to 12-0 when it does not give up a home run.
• The Bulls improved to 13-0 when they out-hit their opponents.
• South Florida is 10-0 when it holds opponents to two or fewer runs.
Up Next
The Bulls conclude the USF Invitational on Monday, February 23. South Florida plays Indiana at 1:05 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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