Softball pregame huddle at No. 7 Florida
Matt Pendleton / South Florida Athletics
1
USF USF 29-13
4
Winner FLORIDA FLORIDA 37-5
USF USF
29-13
1
Final
4
FLORIDA FLORIDA
37-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
USF USF 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 1
FLORIDA FLORIDA 2 0 1 0 1 0 X 4 7 0

W: Katelynn Oxley (4-1) L: Long, Anne (11-4)

Game Recap: Softball | | Chad Smith

USF Softball Falls in a Battle to No. 7 Florida, 4-1, in Gainesville

Karhys Pierce extended her streak of reaching base safely to 11 games

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (April 8, 2026) – The University of South Florida softball team was back on the road for a midweek matchup against No. 7 Florida on Wednesday. The Bulls (29-13) battled the No. 7 Gators (37-5) for seven innings but fell 4-1.
 
DaNia Brooks and Jamia Nelson delivered the key hits for the Bulls. Nelson drove in the only run for USF. Karhys Pierce drew a walk and has safely reached base in 11 straight games. Olivia Elliott was hit by a pitch, extending her streak of reaching base safely to eight games. 
 
How It Happened
The Gators scored first with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning. Florida added another run in the bottom half of the third inning on a single. UF led 3-0 after three innings. 
 
Alex Wilkes drew a five-pitch walk in the top of the fourth inning for USF. Brooks recorded the first hit of the game for the Bulls with a single to left field. Grace Chin entered the game as a pinch runner for Brooks. Nelson drove in South Florida's first run with an RBI single to left field. USF trimmed UF's lead to 3-1 after four innings. 
 
The Gators extended their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning with a run on two hits.
 
Anne Long started for USF and pitched three innings. She now has an 11-4 record. She struck out two batters and gave up three runs on five hits. Carley Ernst finished the game with three relief innings. She also struck out two batters and allowed one unearned run on two hits. 
 
Notables
• Karhys Pierce drew a walk and has reached base safely in 11 consecutive games.
• Olivia Elliott was hit by a pitch, extending her streak of safely reaching base to eight games.
 
Up Next
The Bulls return to the friendly confines of the USF Softball Stadium for a crucial three-game American Conference series. South Florida will face in-state foe Florida Atlantic, with the first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. on ESPN+ Friday, April 10. 
 
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.
 
Follow us:
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF Softball news, follow the Bulls on social media (X / Facebook / Instagram).
 
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 –
 
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