TAMPA, Fla. (March 13, 2026) –
Alex Wilkes led the University of South Florida softball team with four hits against Charlotte on Friday. The Bulls (22-8, 5-0 American) defeated the 49ers (14-14, 1-4 American) with scores of 3-1 and 6-2. USF extended its winning streak to six games and remains undefeated in American Conference play.
Wilkes powered the Bulls with a 4-for-6 day at the plate. She drove in four runs and hit two doubles. She extended her hitting streak to four games.
Alexa Galligani,
Kiley Strott, and
Kathy Garcia-Soto all had two hits on the day. Garcia-Soto extended her hitting streak to three games and has reached safely in five straight.
Olivia Elliott extended her hitting streak to five games.
Carley Ernst and
Anne Long each pitched a complete game in their respective starts. The two combined for five strikeouts and allowed only three runs.
Game One: South Florida 3, Charlotte 1
Garcia-Soto led off the bottom of the first with a six-pitch walk. Galligani followed with an infield single to the shortstop.
Karhys Pierce moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt. Wilkes delivered a two-run double to give USF a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
The 49ers led off the top of the third inning with a walk. After a fielder's choice,
Abbie DeWaters threw out the runner attempting to steal second. The Bulls escaped the inning unscathed.
Charlotte cut the South Florida lead in half in the top of the fourth inning. CLT scored one run on one hit. USF led 2-1 after three and a half innings.
Elliott started the bottom half of the fifth inning with a four-pitch walk. Garcia-Soto reached on a fielding error by the left fielder, putting runners on first and second with no outs. After both runners stole a base, Galligani hit a sacrifice fly to center. South Florida took a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning. The Bulls went on to win 3-1.
Ernst threw a complete-game one-hitter, striking out two batters. She allowed one run on one hit. It was her first complete game of the season, and she moved to a 3-3 record for the year.
Game Two: South Florida 6, Charlotte 2
Charlotte took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a two-run home run by Jenna Lord.
Elliott drew a four-pitch walk with two outs in the bottom of the first. After she stole second, Wilkes produced an RBI single through the left side. The Bulls cut the deficit to 2-1 after one inning.
Garcia-Soto led off the home half of the third with a single to center. Galligani singled in the infield down the third-base line. Elliott laid down a perfect bunt down the third-base line to load the bases with no outs. Wilkes drove in her second RBI of the game with a single off the left-field wall.
Jamia Nelson hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field. She gave the Bulls a 3-2 lead.
Pierce kept the inning going with an eight-pitch walk to load the bases once again for USF. DiNia Brooks drew a four-pitch walk and drove in an RBI. Two batters later, Strott delivered a single down the right field line to bring in a run. Pierce gave the Bulls a 6-2 lead as she scored on a passed ball. USF headed to the fourth inning with a 6-2 advantage.
Long started in the circle and threw her second complete game of the season. She improved her record to 7-3. She struck out three batters and allowed two earned runs. She gave up only two hits after the first inning.
Notables
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Alex Wilkes went 4-for-6 at the plate, extending her hitting streak to four games.
•
Olivia Elliott has extended her hitting streak to five games.
•
Kathy Garcia-Soto extended her hitting streak to three games and has safely reached base in five consecutive games.
•
DaNia Brooks has safely reached base in five consecutive games.
•
Anne Long pitched her second complete game of the season and improved to 7-3.
•
Carley Ernst pitched her first complete game of the season and moved to 3-3 for the year.
• The Bulls improved to 19-1 when they out-hit their opponents.
• USF is 15-1 when it allows two or fewer runs.
• South Florida remains undefeated at 21-0 when it scores three or more runs.
• The Bulls are undefeated at 18-0 when leading after five innings.
Up Next
The Bulls and the 49ers finish their three-game series on Saturday, March 14. The first pitch is set for noon 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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