TAMPA, Fla. (February 7, 2026) – The University of South Florida bats woke up in a big way on Saturday, the third day of the USF Rawlings Invitational.
Toryn Fulton and
Olivia Elliott both hit home runs as South Florida run-ruled Kansas (12-4) and Bethune-Cookman (10-0). The Bulls improved to 2-2 on the season, while the Jayhawks fell to 2-1 and the Wildcats fell to 0-5.
Kathy Garcia-Soto extended her hitting streak to four games with hits in both games today. Fulton recorded her first career hit, a three-run home run in game one. In game two, she blasted a home run off the batting cage in left field. Fulton finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate. Elliott belted her first home run of the season, a grand slam.
McKenna Schroding earned a complete-game shutout in her first career start.
Game One: South Florida 12, Kansas 4
Anna Soles put the Jayhawks on the board first with a two-run home run in the top of the first. Kansas added two more runs in the top of the fourth, extending its lead to 4-0.
DaNia Brooks got things started in the home half of the fifth with a one-out double down the left-field line.
Jocelyn Wilkes drove Brooks in to put the Bulls on the board. Elliott drove in
Grace Chin, who came in to pinch run, with a single to the right side.
Alex Wilkes drove in a run after she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Bulls cut the deficit to 4-3 after five innings.
Brooks drew a five-pitch walk with one out in the bottom of the sixth.
Kiley Strott followed with a one-out single to put runners on the corners. Fulton launched the first pitch she saw over the left-field wall for a three-run homer. She put USF ahead 6-4 with one out.
Alexa Galligani reached on a fielder's choice sac bunt that drove in Elliott from third.
Karhys Pierce drew a six-pitch walk with the bases loaded. Brooks picked up two RBIs on a single up the middle. Strott produced a two-RBI triple to right field, giving USF a 12-4 lead and forcing the run rule. The Bulls won 12-4.
Hannah Marien got the start in the circle and went 3 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs.
Belle Sardja threw 2 2/3 innings in relief and picked up the win. She gave up just one hit and recorded one strikeout.
Game Two: South Florida 10, Bethune-Cookman 0
The Bulls scored first in the home half of the first inning.
Alex Wilkes drove in the first run.
Jamia Nelson followed with a two-RBI double to put the Bulls up 3-0. Fulton blasted a two-run home run that hit the top of the batting cages beyond the left-field wall. USF held a 5-0 lead after the first inning.
Abbie DeWaters put the Bulls up 6-0 in the bottom of the third inning with a sacrifice fly. Elliott put South Florida up 10-0 with a grand slam to right center. USF kept BCU off the scoreboard and claimed a 10-0 victory.
Schroding threw a complete gem in her first college start. She struck out three batters and allowed just two hits. She did not hit a batter or issue any walks.
Notables
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Kathy Garcia-Soto extends her hitting streak to four games.
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Toryn Fulton hit her first home run in game one. She hit her second home run of the day in game two.
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Olivia Elliott hit her first home run of the season, a grand slam.
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Belle Sardja earned her first win of the season.
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McKenna Schroding tossed her first career complete-game shutout in her first collegiate start.
Up Next
The Bulls conclude the USF Rawlings Invitational on Sunday. South Florida will face No. 6 Florida at 2:35 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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