TAMPA, Fla. (March 14, 2026) – The University of South Florida softball team swept Charlotte on Saturday. The Bulls achieved their second American Conference sweep of the season. It marks the first time South Florida has started conference play 6-0 since 2012.
Alex Wilkes and
Olivia Elliott were perfect at the plate as the Bulls (23-8, 6-0 American) defeated the 49ers (14-15, 1-5 American) 7-2.
Wilkes finished the day a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. She extended her hitting streak to five games and recorded her 11th multi-hit game of the season. Elliott went 2-for-2 at the plate, scoring three times and driving in two RBIs. She also extended her hitting streak to six games.
Kathy Garcia-Soto hit a ground-rule double, extending her hitting streak to four games.
DaNia Brooks went 1-for-2 at the plate and has now reached base safely in six straight games.
How It Happened
Garcia-Soto began the bottom of the first with a four-pitch walk.
Alexa Galligani moved Garcia-Soto to second with a sacrifice. Elliott put the Bulls in the lead with a two-run homer over the right-field wall. USF was ahead 2-0 as they entered the second inning.
Galligani led off the bottom of the third inning with a solo home run to right field.
Elliott kept the inning alive with a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error by the catcher. Wilkes drove in Elliott with a double to right-center.
Karhys Pierce moved Wilkes to third with a groundout to third.
DaNia Brooks extended the USF lead to 5-0 with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Elliott drew a six-pitch walk with one out in the home half of the fifth inning to get things started for South Florida. Wilkes singled to left field, allowing Elliott to move to third. Pierce grounded out to third, but Elliott scored from third. The Bulls took a 6-0 lead into the top of the sixth.
Jamia Nelson started the bottom of the sixth with a single to left center.
Sam Walz pinch ran for Nelson.
Toryn Fulton singled to right field and was thrown out at second base while trying to turn her single into a double. Walz advanced to third on the play. Garcia-Soto hit a ground-rule double, increasing the USF lead to 7-0.
The 49ers managed to get on the board in the top of the seventh inning. Charlotte scored two runs on three hits. However, South Florida won the game 7-2.
Hannah Marien started the game and pitched six innings. She earned the win and improved to 5-0 this season. She allowed only one earned run on three hits.
McKenna Schroding faced two batters and gave up one run on two hits.
Carley Ernst finished the game with one inning of relief, allowing just one hit.
Notables
• South Florida begins 6-0 in conference play for the first time since 2012 as members of the Big East.
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Alex Wilkes extended her hitting streak to five games and notched her 11th multi-hit game of the season.
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Olivia Elliott has extended her hitting streak to six games.
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Kathy Garcia-Soto hit a ground-rule double, extending her hitting streak to four games.
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DaNia Brooks finished the day 1-for-2 at the plate and has safely reached base in six straight games.
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Hannah Marien is now 5-0 inside the circle for the season.
• The Bulls improved to 20-1 when they out-hit their opponents.
• USF is 16-1 when it allows two or fewer runs.
• South Florida remains undefeated at 22-0 when it scores three or more runs.
• The Bulls are undefeated at 19-0 when leading after five innings.
Up Next
The Bulls return to the diamond on Wednesday, March 18, for a non-conference midweek game. South Florida travels to FGCU for a 6 p.m. 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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