USF Softball Extends Winning Streak to Eight Games with Run-Rule Victory Over FGCU

Wednesday, March 18

Fort Myers, Fla.

6 p.m.

University of South Florida

24-8

FGCU

9-18

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
South Florida	0	1	0	1	5	2	9	10	0
FGCU	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	4

DaNia Brooks ties a USF season high with four RBIs

Photo by: Chad Smith / South Florida Athletics

USF Softball Extends Winning Streak to Eight Games with Run-Rule Victory Over FGCU

March 18, 2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DaNia Brooks led the Bulls with four RBIs

By: Chad Smith

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 18, 2026) – The University of South Florida softball team played a midweek game against FGCU on Wednesday. DaNia Brooks drove in a team-high four runs, as the Bulls (24-8) run-ruled the Eagles (9-18) 9-1 in six innings.

Brooks tied a USF season high with four RBIs and had a two-hit game. Alex Wilkes extended her hitting streak to six games with two hits. Kathy Garcia-Soto has safely reached base in seven straight games and extended her hitting streak to five games. Alexa Galligani tied a team high with two hits, and she has recorded at least one hit in four consecutive games. Toryn Fulton also contributed with two hits and two runs scored. Wilkes and Karhys Pierce each scored two runs as well.

How It Happened
Wilkes started things off in the top of the second with a lead-off double to right center. Brooks reached on a fielding error by the pitcher with one out, moving Wilkes to third. With two outs, Brooks stole second, and Wilkes scored on a throwing error by the shortstop. USF took a 1-0 lead into the third inning.

Pierce drew a two-out walk in the top of the fourth inning. Brooks increased the lead to 2-0 with an RBI double to right center.

DaNia extends the USF lead with an RBI double to right center! pic.twitter.com/K59n0RFdF8
— USF Softball (@USFSoftball) March 18, 2026

Fulton produced a one-out single to start the top of the fifth inning. Garcia-Soto followed with a single to shortstop. Galligani singled to load the bases with one out. Elliott drew a walk that scored Fulton from third. With two outs, Pierce recorded an RBI single to right field.

.@KarhysP makes it 4-0 with a single to right!@ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/29LoQYlMnC
— USF Softball (@USFSoftball) March 18, 2026

Brooks cleared the bases with a single to right field. The Bulls had a 7-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning.

DaNia clears the bases and gives the Bulls a 7-0 lead!@ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/A6appsovKv
— USF Softball (@USFSoftball) March 18, 2026

The Eagles scored with a solo home run by Sophie Wylie in the bottom of the fifth.

Fulton doubled with one out in the top of the sixth inning to start a rally. Garcia-Soto drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Galligani followed with a single through the right side to load the bases. Elliott extended the lead to 8-1 with a sacrifice fly to left field. Wilkes then had an 11-pitch at-bat that resulted in an RBI single through the left side. South Florida led 9-1 going into the bottom of the sixth.

.@alexwilkes01 extends it to 9-1!@ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/7r6VcZ2KjA
— USF Softball (@USFSoftball) March 18, 2026

Belle Sardja retired the side in the bottom of the sixth inning and secured a 9-1 run-rule victory for USF.

McKenna Schroding started in the circle for the Bulls. She gave up one hit in her two innings pitched. Sardja earned the win in four innings of relief and improved to 5-1 on the season. She struck out two batters and allowed one earned run on three hits.

Notables
• South Florida extended its winning streak to eight games.
• DaNia Brooks matched a USF season high with four RBIs during a two-hit game. She has safely reached base in seven consecutive games.
• Alex Wilkes extended her hitting streak to six games and recorded her 12th multi-hit game of the season.
• Kathy Garcia-Soto has safely reached base in seven consecutive games and extended her hitting streak to five games.
• Alexa Galligani has scored in four consecutive games.
• Belle Sardja now has a 5-1 record inside the circle for the season.
• The Bulls improved to 21-1 when they out-hit their opponents.
• USF has a 17-1 record when it allows two or fewer runs.
• South Florida is 23-0 when it scores three or more runs.
• The Bulls remain undefeated at 20-0 when leading after five innings.

Up Next
South Florida hits the road this weekend for a three-game series at Tulsa. The Bulls and the Golden Hurricane are set to start at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ on Friday, March 20.

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).

– #GoBulls –