Photo Credit: usforacle.com
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The University of South Florida is witnessing a powerhouse start to the 2026 spring season. Across the diamond and the turf, the Bulls have spent February rewriting record books and stacking up double-digit win streaks. As the calendar turns to March, USF shifts focus to its first major road tests of the year.
Lacrosse: A Second-Half Surge
After a dominant 25–4 victory over Stetson, the Bulls (3–1) welcomed the Mercer Bears to Corbett Stadium for a tightly contested battle. For the first time this season, USF found themselves in a rare halftime deficit, trailing 8–6.
However, the Bulls proved their resilience by outscoring the Bears 9–2 in the second half to secure a 15–10 win.
- The Star: Sofia Chepenik was unstoppable, netting four goals and adding an assist.
- Milestone: During the comeback, Chepenik officially recorded her 100th career goal.
- Up Next: USF remains at home to host the Brown Bears at Corbett Stadium on Sunday, March 1, at noon.
Softball: The 10-Game Tear
USF Softball hosted a loaded field at the USF Invitational, featuring St. Joseph’s, Marist, Boston College, Colgate, and Indiana. The Bulls were nearly untouchable, rattling off 10 consecutive wins before their first blemish of the tournament.
- The Streak: The Bulls dominated early, including a statement 7–1 victory over Boston College. USF improved to a perfect 12–0 this season when out-hitting their opponents.
- The Duel with Indiana: USF took the first game against the Hoosiers 5–3, but the rematch proved difficult. Indiana erupted for a nine-run fifth inning to hand the Bulls an 11–1 loss, snapping their 10-game winning streak.
- Road Trip: The Bulls (16–6) now head to Tuscaloosa for the T-Mobile Crimson Classic, where they will face Kent State, St. Thomas, and the No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide.
Baseball: A Record-Breaking Weekend
The USF Baseball team (7–2) provided the most explosive highlight of the month during their series sweep of Georgia Southern.
- Historic Offense: In the second game of the series, USF set a new program record by scoring 29 runs on 23 hits in a 29–4 rout. The Bulls scored multiple runs in every single inning, including an eight-run first and six-run frames in the fifth and sixth.
- The Clutch Factor: Following the blowout, USF showed they could also win the close ones, walking off the Eagles in the ninth to complete the sweep and extend their winning streak to six.
- Road Reality Check: The Bulls took their first road trip of 2026 to Daytona Beach, falling to Bethune-Cookman 4–3 after the Wildcats rallied for two runs in the seventh inning.
What’s Next: The War on I-4
The rivalry is renewed as USF Baseball heads to Orlando to take on the UCF Knights. With the all-time series tied at 39–39, this weekend series will determine who takes the lead in one of college baseball’s most heated matchups.
What are your thoughts on USF Athletics? Leave a comment below.
For all your NCAA sports news log on to ngscsports.com.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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