The USF softball team is gearing up for the 2025 season, bringing a blend of seasoned veterans and fresh talent.

Under the leadership of head coach Ken Eriksen, now entering his 28th season at the helm, the Bulls have set their sights on more than just a solid season.

Eriksen has them focused on a deep postseason run in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and beyond.

“Winning a championship was mentioned on Aug. 25, and it’s been every day since,” he said at the USF Softball Stadium last friday. 

The road to glory

The Bulls will waste no time testing themselves against elite competition.

They open their season on Thursday with the USF-Rawlings Invitational at the USF Softball Stadium.

In the tournament, South Florida will face heavyweights like Florida and Michigan. 

The Gators and Wolverines are ranked at No. 3 and No. 34 in the NCAA poll currently, respectively.

Eriksen said the team is embracing the challenge.

“It’s almost a postseason tournament right off the bat,” he said. “Well, you don’t want anything less than that, right?”

With a rigorous non-conference slate – including playing at current No. 1 Texas – leading into AAC play, the Bulls will be battle-tested. 

Their conference season culminates with a home series against UTSA (May 2-4), before they host the AAC Tournament from May 7-10. 

For a team with championship aspirations, there may be no better place to take that next step than their own stadium.

Graduate infielder Alanah Rivera echoed the team’s confidence.

“This is going to be a very exciting team,” she said. “We have a lot of talent, one through 26, and I’m excited to see everyone’s growth from the fall to now.”

A stampede of talent

A key strength of this USF squad is its deep and versatile roster.

Senior pitcher Belle Sardja returns to lead the pitching staff after a dominant 2024 campaign.

She ranked fifth in pitchers in the AAC last season and led the team with 40 assists. 

Sardja will be backed by experienced arms in Payton Dixon and Alex Wright.

The Bulls ranked No. 1 in the conference last season in pitching with 12 shutouts and a 2.69 earned run average (ERA) allowed.

Eriksen is also excited about the addition of freshman Anne Long, whom he described as “ice cold”.

In her senior year of high school, Long established a 1.22 ERA with 122 strike outs to 33 walks.

“She’s got movement that’s incredible,” Eriksen said. 

Defensively, Rivera and sophomore Kathy Garcia-Soto will be critical.

Their chemistry up the middle is a major asset.

“We always know what each other is going to do and each other’s tendencies,” Rivera said. 

The Bulls also welcome a highly-touted freshman class, including utility Karhys Pierce and outfielder Grace Chin. 

Eriksen praised the rookies’ competitive edge. Veteran catcher Josie Foreman is excited about what they bring. 

“We’ve got seven pitchers and three catchers,” Foreman said. “It’s really fun because you’re staying busy all the time.”

Braving the bullpen

For the seniors on this team, there’s a sense of urgency. 

Foreman and Rivera are among the few players who have tasted the NCAA postseason before, and they want to make sure the rest of the team understands what’s at stake.

“Only really four of us have experienced that regionals… and it’s like nothing else, and it just makes you hungry to get back,” Foreman said.

After two consecutive seasons of missing the tournament, this year’s squad is determined to change the narrative. 

Eriksen said players were coming back early from winter break to be more prepared for the season.

The Bulls aren’t just playing against opponents – they’re attacking the game itself.

“You’re going to attack the game, and the game will present itself,” Eriksen said. “So that’s our focus.

Correction: An earlier version of this article listed an incorrect amount of walks for Long’s high school data.