The University of South Florida softball team secured two shutout victories against Delaware on Tuesday, with scores of 7-0 and 8-0 in a doubleheader at the USF Softball Stadium. The Bulls improved their record to 4-3 for the season, while Delaware fell to 1-5.
Alexa Galligani led USF’s offense by going 5-for-5 at the plate, scoring four runs, hitting two doubles, and driving in two runs. She also reached base through two walks and was hit by a pitch. Karhys Pierce and Alex Wilkes each collected four hits over both games and contributed three RBIs apiece. Wilkes extended her hitting streak to four games and has now reached base safely in five consecutive games. Olivia Elliott has reached base safely in six straight contests.
In the first game, USF scored five runs in the opening inning, aided by an RBI single from Wilkes and a double from Pierce. The Bulls added more runs throughout the game, winning 7-0. Anne Long started as pitcher for USF, throwing six innings with six strikeouts while allowing three hits. Carley Ernst pitched one inning in relief without surrendering any hits.
The second game saw Lexi Beldowicz register her first collegiate hit with an RBI double that gave USF an early lead. Additional runs came from sacrifice flies and singles by teammates including Pierce and Wilkes. Jamia Nelson contributed with a two-run double late in the game before Pierce drove in another run with a triple down the left-field line. The Bulls enforced the run rule after six innings with an 8-0 win.
Belle Sardja pitched her first complete-game shutout of the season for USF during Game Two, scattering seven hits across six innings while striking out two batters.
USF will remain at home for The Fonseca Memorial Tournament later this week, hosting Indiana State, Kansas, Yale, Boston College, and DePaul beginning Thursday evening.
Season tickets are available starting at $65; fans can add general admission baseball season tickets for an additional $25 via gousfbulls.com or by contacting the ticket office at 1-800-Go-Bulls.
The South Florida softball program has appeared in 18 NCAA tournaments under head coach Ken Eriksen—who is entering his 29th season—and made it to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.
