TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (March 1, 2026) – The University of South Florida softball team closed out the T-Mobile Crimson Classic with a shutout victory against Kent State on Sunday. The Bulls (17-8) blanked the Golden Flashes (8-11) 9-0.
Jamia Nelson produced a game-high three hits.
Alexa Galligani and
Alex Wilkes each had two hits. Galligani and Karhys each scored twice and drew two walks. Wilkes and Nelson tied for a game-high two RBIs.
Belle Sardja tossed her second complete-game shutout of the season.
How It Happened
The Bulls scored the first runs of the game in the top of the second inning. Nelson led off the frame with a solo home run over the center-field wall. Pierce was hit by a pitch. Strott singled to left field, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Lexi Bledowicz dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up a base. Fulton followed with a groundout that scored Pierce. USF held a 2-0 lead after two innings.
In the top of the third inning, Galligani drew a four-pitch walk.
Olivia Elliott moved Galligani to second with a sacrifice bunt. After advancing to third on a passed ball, Wilkes singled to center field.
Lexi Beldowicz drew a bases-loaded walk, giving the Bulls a 4-0 lead.
USF added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Garcia-Soto hit a sac fly to center field. Galligani followed with an RBI single to left field. South Florida took a 6-0 lead into the sixth inning.
The Bulls extended their lead to 9-0 in the top of the seventh inning.
DaNia Brooks recorded an RBI single through the right side. Wilkes singled to the pitcher to drive in a run. Nelson recorded her second RBI of the game with a single to right field.
Sardja got the start in the circle and tossed a complete game. She improved to 4-1 on the season. She struck out four batters and scattered four hits.
Notables
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Jamia Nelson recorded her first home run of the season. It was her second multi-game of the season and her fifth multi-RBI game.
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Alex Wilkes posted her eighth multi-hit game of the year and her ninth game with multiple RBIs.
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Alexa Galligani recorded her eighth multi-hit game of the year.
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Belle Sardja tossed her second complete-game shutout of the season.
• The Bulls improved to 15-1 when they out-hit their opponents.
• South Florida is 14-0 when it scores five or more runs.
• USF moved to 6-0 after hitting one home run for the game.
• The Bulls are 13-0 when they lead after five innings.
Up Next
The Bulls open American Conference play on Friday, March 6. South Florida travels to Memphis for a 7 p.m. ET first pitch 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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