GREENVILLE, N.C. (May 9, 2026) – The University of South Florida softball team secured a berth into the NCAA tournament with an American Conference tournament championship on Saturday. The Bulls won the regular season and the conference tournament for the first time under Head Coach
Ken Eriksen.
Anne Long threw a one-hitter as South Florida (42-15) defeated East Carolina (34-25) 5-1.
Long was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Olivia Elliott,
Jamia Nelson,
Kathy Garcia-Soto, and
Alex Wilkes joined Long on the team. The Bulls became the third team to win both the regular-season and tournament championships in the American Conference.
With the softball tournament championship, South Florida has captured six conference titles this season. This ties a USF record for the most titles in a season as members of the American Conference. This is the 160th conference title for the USF athletic department.
Long tossed her 14th complete game of the year, improving to 21-5. She allowed only one hit and struck out five batters.
Offensively, seven different players recorded a hit, and five different players scored a run. Nelson led the Bulls with two RBIs. Wilkes extended her hitting streak to nine games with a single, an RBI, and a run scored. Elliott extended her hitting streak to seven games. With a single in today's game,
Karhys Pierce extended her streak of reaching base safely to 11 games.
How It Happened
Elliott led off the home half of the first inning with a double off the center-field wall. Wilkes delivered a two-out single to right field, driving in Elliott. USF held a 1-0 lead after the first inning.
Garcia-Soto drew a four-pitch walk to start the bottom of the third inning for the Bulls. Galligani reached on an infield single to the shortstop. A throwing error by the shortstop and the first baseman allowed Garcia-Soto to score from first. Wilkes followed with a four-pitch walk. Pierce reached on a fielder's choice.
DaNia Brooks reached on a fielder's choice to second base, driving in Galligani and extending the USF lead. After Brooks stole second, Nelson drove in two more runs with a single to center field. The Bulls took a 5-0 lead into the fourth inning.
Long kept the Pirates off the bases until one out in the top of the fourth, when ECU drew a walk. ECU's first hit of the game broke up the no-hit bid and the shutout when Hailey Deter hit a solo home run to lead off the top of the fifth.
Note-a-Bulls
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Olivia Elliott extended her hitting streak to seven games.
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Alex Wilkes extended her hitting streak to nine games with a single.
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Karhys Pierce reached base safely in 11 straight games with a hit in today's game.
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Toryn Fulton reached base safely in nine straight games.
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Anne Long picked up her 21st win of the season.
• The Bulls are 33-0 when they lead after five innings.
• The Bulls moved to 39-2 after scoring more than three runs.
• USF improved to 34-4 when they out-hit their opponents.
• South Florida wins its 10th conference championship under
Ken Eriksen.
• This is the 160th conference title for the USF athletic department.
• With softball's tournament championship, South Florida has captured six conference tournaments. This ties a USF record for most titles in a season as members of the American Conference.
Up Next
The Bulls will learn where they are headed on Sunday, May 10. The NCAA selection show begins at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
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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