TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Josie Foreman blasted two home runs for the University of South Florida softball team on Friday in the first game of the NCAA Regional against Auburn. Camille Ortiz-Martinez hit a grand slam in the ninth inning to power the Bulls (44-14-1) to a 12-7 extra-inning victory against the Tigers (32-23).
 
The Bulls recorded their 18th comeback victory of the season. South Florida won its 29th regional game and 10th game in a Tallahassee regional. The four home runs are the most ever by USF in a regional, and they tied a single-game program record that was achieved for the ninth time.
 
Foreman recorded a season-high two home runs for South Florida. She became the first USF player to hit two home runs in a game since Marissa Trivelpiece on April 30, 2023. Foreman moved into a tie for fifth on the USF single-season home run list with her 11th and 12th home runs in today's game. She has 23 home runs for her career, which is tied for seventh in program history.  
 
Alexa Galligani extended her streak of reaching base safely to 22 games with a pair of hits. She scored twice. Alanah Rivera was hit by a pitch and has reached base safely in 18 consecutive contests. Ortiz-Martinez has reached base safely in 15 straight games after her home run and two walks. Kathy Garcia-Soto produced her first home run of the season and drove in three runs on two hits.
 
Payton Dixon got the start in the circle for the Bulls. She surrendered five earned runs in 0.2 innings. Anne Long was outstanding in 4.0 innings of relief. She struck out two batters and scattered three hits. Belle Sardja picked up the win in 4.1 innings of relief and improved to 17-4. She struck out three batters. She allowed two earned runs.
 
The Tigers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. Auburn plated five runs on five hits.
 
Ortiz-Martinez started things for USF in the top of the second inning with a five-pitch walk. Karhys Pierce followed with a single to right field. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. With two outs, Garcia-Soto drove in two runs with a single to center field. The Bulls cut the deficit to 5-2 after two innings.

Alex Wilkes led off the top of the third inning with an infield single to first base. After taking the first pitch, Foreman belted a two-run home run over the right-center wall as USF cut the deficit to 5-4.
 
Galligani led off the top of the fifth inning with a single up the middle. After Wilkes dropped down a sac bunt, Foreman blasted her second two-run home run of the game. The Bulls took a 6-5 lead into the sixth inning.
 
Auburn tied the game at 6-6 in the home half of the sixth. The Tigers scored the lone run on three hits.
 
Garcia-Soto hit her first home run of the season and put South Florida up 7-6 as the game went to the bottom of the eighth inning.
 
The Tigers tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning on a solo home run and sent the game to the ninth inning.
 
Galligani led off the top of the ninth with a single down the left field line. Wilkes reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt with a throwing error by the catcher. Foreman was intentionally walked to load the bases. Rivera was hit by a pitch and scored the inning's first run. Ortiz-Martinez put the Bulls up five runs with a grand slam over the right-center field wall. USF took a 12-7 lead into the bottom half of the inning and went on to win by the same score.
 
South Florida returns to JoAnne Graf Field on Saturday for a contest with No. 5 Florida State on Saturday, May 17. The first pitch between the Bulls and the Seminoles is slated for 1 p.m. on ESPN+ and Bulls Unlimited.