It only took USF softball five innings to defeat Memphis, as it dominated the Tigers in a 8-0 win on Saturday. The victory extended the Bulls’ winning streak, as the team has strung together six straight wins.

Saturday’s win lands the the Bulls just 1.5 games back of first place in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). Six games remain on USF’s AAC schedule as it pursues No.1 seed in the AAC tournament.

The Bulls stamped their imprint on the game early, scoring four runs in the first inning.

Related: OPINION: USF softball takes best of the week, while baseball slumps

Junior outfielder Olivia Elliot earned the game’s first run, followed up by junior outfielder Alexa Galligani stealing home. 

With graduate Alanah Rivera on first base, junior utility player Camille Ortiz-Martinez stepped to the plate. Ortiz-Martinez proceeded to score a home run, adding two more runs to the Bulls total as she and Rivera crossed home.

While the offense was firing on all cylinders, head coach Ken Eriksen said there was another reason for USF’s victory. He said Belle Sardja’s pitching was the driving factor in the afternoon win.

“For [Sardja] to give us an opportunity to win the first inning was a big deal,” Eriksen said. “Belle Sardja was what we needed today.”

Senior pitcher Sardja pitched all five innings versus the Tigers, allowing just a single hit. She also finished with two strikeouts and no errors.

Sardja has impressed on the mound recently, earning an AAC pitcher of the week award on Monday. During Friday’s game versus Memphis, she earned her eighth save, tying a single-season program record.

The Gibsonton native pitched for two years at Florida Southwestern College before joining Bulls last season. Eriksen said her time at the junior college level was needed to elevate her play.

“It always takes one year at a [junior college] to start really seeing what Division 1 softball is about and what the philosophies are,” Eriksen said. “People won’t swing at pitches that are that far off the plate.”

Sardja said she’s noticed her improvement throughout the year. She said she attributes her growth to promising to God to be tranquill while on the mound.

“I’m more comfortable now than I was before,” Sardja said. “That’s something that I wanted to always pursue and strive for, leaving no regrets, leaving no doubts.”

The Bulls rattled off another four runs in the game after the first inning. One of the day’s standout performances came from sophomore infielder DaNia Brooks. 

In the deciding fifth inning, Brooks doubled at the plate, and later earned a run after Kahrys Pierce flew out to center field.

Up next on USF’s schedule is a date with No. 7 Florida in Gainesville on Wednesday. Brooks said the Bulls can keep its winning streak alive by focusing on the task at hand.

“It’s a new day, so there’s new things you have to accomplish for both teams,” Brooks said. “So I think just really honing in on what your goals are and just attacking that day.”

With the win on Saturday, the Bulls sit 1.5 games back of first place in the AAC.

USF will be in action on the road at 6 p.m. versus No.7 Florida on Wednesday. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.