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University of South Florida Softball — Recruiting Overview
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3-Year Snapshot (2023 – 2025*)
2025 season (through Apr 25 2025)
- Overall record: 36-13-1 (15-5-1 AAC)
- Roster size: 26 players
- Positional mix: 7 pitchers ▪ 3 catchers ▪ 6 infielders ▪ 5 outfielders ▪ 5 utility
- Class mix: 8 freshmen ▪ 7 sophomores ▪ 7 juniors ▪ 4 seniors/grad
- Incoming freshmen (8): Karhys Pierce, Grace Chin, McKenna Schroding, Anne Long, Alice
DeWaters, Grace Rawn, Sydnie Whitaker, Hannah Marien
- Transfers added (3): Olivia Elliott (UCF), Belle Sardja (FL Southwestern State), Hannah
Marien (Stetson)
- Non-senior departures after 2024: 4
- Home-state spread: FL 19, PA 2, NY 2, DE 1, NJ 1, PR 1
2024 season
- Overall record: 34-22 (13-14 AAC)
- Roster size: 30 players
- Positional mix: 5 pitchers ▪ 5 catchers ▪ 10 infielders ▪ 7 outfielders ▪ 3 utility
- Class mix: 9 freshmen ▪ 7 sophomores ▪ 5 juniors ▪ 9 seniors/grad
- Incoming freshmen (9): Sam Walz, Jamia Nelson, DaNia Brooks, Alex Wilkes, Alex Wright,
Dharma Murray, Julia Apostolakos, Sydnie Whitaker, Alicea Pepitone
- Transfers added (7): Marissa Trivelpiece (Michigan State), Sam Mallinder (Northern
Illinois), Olivia Elliott (UCF), Belle Sardja (FL Southwestern State), Bailey Drapola (Pitt), Rian Eigenmann
(Central Connecticut State), Alyssa Rano (St. Pete College)
- Non-senior departures after 2023: 6
- Home-state spread: FL 17, PA 3, NY 2, NJ 2, DE 1, IL 1, MO 1, TX 1, OH 1, PR 1
2023 season
- Overall record: 32-24 (10-7 AAC)
- Roster size: 29 players
- Positional mix: 7 pitchers ▪ 5 catchers ▪ 7 infielders ▪ 6 outfielders ▪ 4 utility
- Class mix: 8 freshmen ▪ 6 sophomores ▪ 8 juniors ▪ 7 seniors/grad
- Incoming freshmen (8): Alexa Galligani, Morgan Grubb, Jaden Martinez, Kathy Garcia-Soto,
Jocelyn Wilkes, Tieley Vaughn, Camille Ortiz-Martinez, Payton Dixon
- Transfer added (1): Marissa Trivelpiece (Michigan State)
- Non-senior departures after 2022: 6
- Home-state spread: FL 18, PA 3, NY 1, NJ 1, DE 1, MD 1, IL 1, TX 1, PR 1
*2025 record through games of April 25 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Florida talent pipeline: Sunshine-State natives supply roughly two-thirds of the roster each season.
- Pitching depth increased from 7 arms (2023) to 9 (2025).
- Transfer portal impact: 7 newcomers in 2024, 3 more in 2025 add veteran experience and offense.
- Better retention: non-senior departures dropped from 6 to 4 year-over-year.
- Balanced 2025 class mix (8-7-7-4) positions the program for smooth succession.
Physiology
| Position Group |
Average Height |
| Pitchers |
5′ 8½″ |
| Catchers |
5′ 7½″ |
| Infielders |
5′ 7¼″ |
| Outfielders |
5′ 6½″ |
Projected Positional Needs – University of South Florida
Softball
The 2025 Bulls carry 26 players (7 P • 3 C • 6 IF • 5 OF • 5 UT). Class breakdown:
8 freshmen • 7 sophomores • 7 juniors • 4 seniors/grad.
The table shows how many athletes at each position will graduate before the 2027 and 2028 seasons
and the minimum recruiting targets to keep USF’s preferred 24-player roster
balanced.
| Position group |
Leaving before
2027 |
Needs for
2027 roster |
Leaving before
2028 |
Needs for
2028 roster |
| Pitchers |
2 (both RHP) |
Add 2–3 – 1 power RHP
+ 1 LHP |
2 |
Add 2 – swing-role
frosh & late-inning K arm |
| Catchers |
1 |
Add 1 catcher with
sub-2.0 pop time |
1 |
Add 1 – left-handed
bat preferred |
| Infielders |
2 |
Add 2–3 – glove-first
SS + corner slugger(s) |
2 |
Add 2 – high-OBP 2B
and RBI 3B/1B |
| Outfielders |
1 |
Add 2 – speed CF +
corner power bat |
1 |
Add 1–2 – big-arm RF
& athletic LF |
| Utility / DP |
1 |
Add 1 versatile LH
bat |
1 |
Add 1
multi-positional hitter (DP/UTL) |
Recruiting Focus – Class Arriving 2027 (for 2027 season)
- Two frontline pitchers – one hard-throwing righty, one lefty with
change-of-pace.
- Defensive catcher who can control the run game; LH stick is a bonus.
- Premium shortstop plus a power-corner bat to replace graduating seniors.
- Center-fielder with 6.8-7.0 speed and high OBP.
Recruiting Focus – Class Arriving 2028 (for 2028 season)
- Two additional pitchers – one upside freshman and one instant-impact transfer.
- Athletic right-fielder with 65+ mph arm and gap power.
- High-contact 2B to set the table for middle-order bats.
- Left-handed utility bat capable of LF/1B/DP to maximize matchup flexibility.
Coaching Staff
Ken Eriksen – Head Coach
29th season • 1,100+ wins • 2012 WCWS • 16 NCAA berths • 4-time AAC COY • ex-USA Softball Olympic coach.
Karla Claudio Rivera – Assistant Coach / Pitching
USF alumna & Puerto Rico National Team ace; returned 2021 — staff 1.97 ERA in 2024.
Lisa Navas – Assistant Coach / Defense
30-year veteran; former NC State head coach; infield guru with 18 All-Americans.
Jim Beitia – Assistant Coach / Operations & Hitting
Tampa native; oversees scouting, analytics and daily logistics.
About the School
- Founded 1956; main campus in Tampa plus St. Petersburg & Sarasota-Manatee branches.
- ≈ 50 000 students (Fall 2024) — ≈ 38 k undergrads.
- Joined the Association of American Universities (AAU) in 2023.
- Ranked No. 45 U.S. public university (U.S. News 2025).
- $690 M in annual R & D expenditures; R1 status.
- 1,600-acre urban campus 10 mi from downtown Tampa and Gulf beaches.
- 200+ undergraduate majors across 14 colleges.
- Top-15 nationally for social mobility (Pell-grant grads).
- 600+ student orgs; thriving Tampa Bay Innovation District.
- Varsity teams compete in the American Athletic Conference as the “South Florida Bulls.”
Admission Standards (FTIC 2025-26)
- 4 English, 4 Math (Alg I+), 3 Science (2 lab), 3 Social Science, 2 sequential foreign-language
credits.
- Middle-50 % admits (Fall 2024): GPA 4.1-4.5 • SAT 1250-1400 • ACT 27-31.
- Standardized test required (SAT / ACT / CLT) – minimum subs: SAT 490 RW & 480 Math | ACT 19 R,
17 E, 19 Math.
- Holistic review weighs rigor, senior schedule, trends, leadership, service & background.
- Common App • $30 fee • Scholarship priority Jan 15 • Final deadline Mar 1.
- Two-semester foreign-language proficiency required for admission and graduation.
- Average enrolled (Fall 2024): GPA 4.23 • SAT 1306 • ACT 28.2.
Other Tidbits
- Nearest major airport: Tampa Int’l (TPA) – 20 min
- Nearest major international airport: Tampa Int’l (TPA) – 20 min
- Landmarks: Busch Gardens, Ybor City, Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa Museum of Art
- Famous alumni: Hulk Hogan (attended), Mark Consuelos, Jeff Cunningham
- Avg. daytime highs: Spring 82 °F • Summer 91 °F • Fall 84 °F • Winter 70 °F
Links and Media
USF Softball — Official Social Media
Key Program & School Links