Softball in-game circle visit against Kent State
Chad Smith / South Florida Athletics
2
Kent State GOLDENF 8-7
10
Winner USF USF 16-5
Kent State GOLDENF
8-7
2
Final
10
USF USF
16-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Kent State GOLDENF 0 2 0 0 0 2 4 2
USF USF 0 0 5 0 5 10 11 0

W: Long, Anne (5-2) L: Ferri, Meadow (0-1)

0
USF USF 16-6
8
Winner Alabama UA 16-0
USF USF
16-6
0
Final
8
Alabama UA
16-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
USF USF 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Alabama UA 0 0 0 3 5 8 11 1

W: Vic Moten (8-0) L: Ernst, Carley (1-3)

Game Recap: Softball | | Chad Smith

USF Softball Splits Day One of the T-Mobile Crimson Classic

The Bulls earned their first neutral-site victory over Kent State

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (February 27, 2026) – The University of South Florida softball team returned to the diamond for day one of the T-Mobile Crimson Classic on Friday. South Florida opened the day with a 10-2 win over Kent State (8-7). In game two, the Bulls (16-6) fell to the No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide (16-0) by an 8-0 score. 
 
Alexa Galligani extended her hitting streak to five games in game one against Kent State. Alex Wilkes reached base safely in 10 straight games after game one.
 
Game One: South Florida 10, Kent State 2
The Golden Flashes got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning. Kent State scored two runs on a two-run home run by Leilani Johnson.
 
Galligani led off the bottom of the third inning with a single to left. Elliott followed with a bunt single just in front of the plate. Wilkes drove in USF's first run with a single to left. Jamia Nelson tied the game with a fielder's choice to the shortstop. Grace Chin pinch ran for Nelson. Fulton drew a six-pitch walk to load the bases for the Bulls. Kiley Strott drove in an RBI single to right field, putting South Florida up 3-2. Lexi Beldowicz extended the USF lead to 5-2 with a two-RBI single to left field. The Bulls took a 5-2 lead into the fifth inning. 
 
Strott reached base on a fielding error by the pitcher. Beldowicz followed with a four-pitch walk. Kathy Garcia-Soto walked to load the bases for the Bulls. Galligani drove in a run on a fielding error by the shortstop. Elliott added a run with a bases-loaded walk. Alex Wilkes extended the lead to seven with a single to left field, scoring two runs. Fulton recorded the walk-off with a sacrifice fly to center field. The Bulls won 10-2 in five innings, forcing the run-rule. 
 
Anne Long started the game in the circle and pitched a complete game. She struck out six and improved to 5-2 on the season. She allowed two earned runs on four hits.
 
Game Two: Alabama 8, South Florida 0
The Alabama leadoff hitter started the home half with a walk. She advanced to third on the next two outs. Carley Ernst closed the door and ended the threat with a strikeout.
 
Abbie DeWaters led off the top of the third inning with a seven-pitch walk. Fulton reached on a fielder's choice to the shortstop. Garcia-Soto followed with a single to third. Galligani moved the runners to third with a groundout to second. The Bulls were unable to score. The game remained scoreless after three innings.
 
The Crimson Tide got on the scoreboard in the home half of the fourth inning. Alabama scored three runs on three hits, aided by one USF error. All three runs were unearned. The Crimson Tide forced a run-rule with five runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth.  
 
Ernst started and went 3 1/3 innings. She struck out four batters and surrendered three earned runs. Belle Sardja pitched one inning in relief and struck out one batter. She allowed five earned runs. 
 
Notables
• Alexa Galligani extended her hitting streak to five games in game one against Kent State.
• Alex Wilkes reached base safely in 10 straight games after game one.
 
Up Next
The Bulls return to the T-Mobile Crimson Classic on Saturday, February 28, for two games. South Florida faces No. 5 Alabama at 2:30 p.m. ET on SECN+, followed by St. Thomas at 5 p.m. ET.
 
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.
 
Follow us:
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF Softball news, follow the Bulls on social media (X / Facebook / Instagram).
 
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).
 
– #GoBulls –
 
 
 
 
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