MEMPHIS, Tenn. (March 6, 2026) –
Karhys Pierce,
Toryn Fulton, and
Alexa Galligani all had four hits on the day for the University of South Florida softball team on Friday. South Florida defeated Memphis, 9-4 and 12-3 (6) to open American Conference play. The Bulls (19-8, 2-0 American) and the Tigers (7-15, 0-2 American) will close out the series on Sunday.
Galligani went 4-for-9 on the day with a team-high four RBIs. She extended her hitting streak to three games.
Kiley Strott tied for a team-high four RBIs. She hit her first home run, and she extended her hitting streak to three games. Fulton went 4-for-7 and scored a team-best four runs. Pierce went 4-for-6 on the day with two runs scored and two RBIs. She extended her hitting streak to three games.
Game One: South Florida 9, Memphis 4
The Tigers took the lead with a four-run third inning. Memphis collected five hits to score the four runs.
With one out in the top of the fourth,
Karhys Pierce singled through the left side.
DaNia Brooks followed with an infield single. Strott hit a three-run home run to left field, her first of the season.
Fulton hit a triple off the right-field wall. Garcia-Soto drove in a sacrifice fly, tying the game at 4-4.
Lexi Beldowicz drew an eight-pitch walk. Pierce singled to second, putting runners on first and second. Brooks reached on a sacrifice bunt that an error by the third baseman allowed Beldowicz to score from second. Strott drove in her fourth RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Fulton singled through the left side to continue the top of the fifth. Fulton stole second, and Brooks stole home. Garcia-Soto singled through the left side and extended the USF lead to 8-4.
Fulton started the top of the seventh with a single through the left side. She stole second and advanced to third on Garcia-Soto's groundout.
Alexa Galligani recorded a sacrifice fly to center. The Bulls went on to win game one 9-4.
Anne Long started the game in the circle and pitched 2 2/3 innings. She gave up four earned runs.
Hannah Marien finished the game and earned the win. She improved to 4-0 on the season, striking out three batters.
Game Two: South Florida 12, Memphis 3
The Bulls scored in the top of the first inning. Pierce singled up the middle and drove in Elliott from second. In the top of the second inning, Galligani grounded out to second but drove in Strott from third.
Abbie DeWaters made it 3-0 as she scored on a passed ball.
Memphis scored a run in the bottom of the second on four hits. The Tigers tied the game in the home half of the third with two runs on two hits and were helped by one USF error.
The Bulls took the lead again in the top of the fourth inning. Garcia-Soto was caught in a rundown and scored the first run of the inning.
Alex Wilkes laid down a sacrifice bunt. Elliott scored on an error by the pitcher. USF maintained a 6-3 lead into the fifth.
DeWaters recorded an infield single to start the top of the fifth inning. Fulton singled to right field. Garcia-Soto laid down a sacrifice bunt and moved the runners to second and third. Galligani drove in two runs with a single down the left-field line.
Wilkes hit an RBI double off the left-field wall. Pierce then followed with an RBI single to center field. The Bulls held a 10-3 lead going into the sixth.
At the top of the sixth inning, Elliott drove in two runs with a double to right-center. South Florida went on to win in six innings, 12-3.
Belle Sardja started the game and pitched 2 2/3 innings. She struck out two batters and allowed three runs, with only two earned.
Carley Ernst earned the win in three innings of relief, improving her record to 2-3 on the season, and struck out three batters.
McKenna Schroding pitched 1/3 of an inning.
Notables
•
Alexa Galligani finished the day with four hits, leading the team with four RBIs. She extended her hitting streak to three games.
•
Kiley Strott tied for the team lead with four RBIs. She hit her first home run and extended her hitting streak to three games.
•
Karhys Pierce recorded four hits, scored two runs, and drove in two RBIs. She extended her hitting streak to three games.
• The Bulls improved to 17-1 when they out-hit their opponents.
• South Florida is undefeated at 12-0 when it scores six or more runs.
• USF improved to 7-0 after hitting one home run in the game.
• The Bulls are undefeated at 15-0 when they are ahead after five innings.
Up Next
The Bulls return to the Tigers Softball Complex on Sunday for the series finale. South Florida and Memphis are set to start at 12 p.m. ET.
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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