The No. 3 University of Tampa softball team extended its impressive season with a dominant doubleheader sweep over Caldwell, securing their 18th and 19th consecutive victories. The Spartans are now tied for the longest winning streak in program history, matching the 19-game streak set in 2019.

Inside The Matchup

Location: Naimoli Field | Tampa, Fla.
Final Score (Game One): No. 3 Tampa 11 | Caldwell 0 (5 innings)
Final Score (Game Two): No. 3 Tampa 7 | Caldwell 2
History: Tampa improves to 2-0 all-time against Caldwell.
Records: Tampa (23-1), Caldwell (0-9)

Game One Highlights

Tampa scored in each of the first three innings en route to an 11-0 run-rule victory. The Spartans exploded for seven runs in the second inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Kenzie Reynolds and an RBI triple from Lauren Fantone. Gwen McGinnis and Kate DeSimone combined for a four-hit shutout, striking out five. Offensively, Tampa racked up 12 hits, with multiple players contributing an RBI. Mariah Galhouse got the scoring started with an RBI double, bringing in Lilly Kiester in the first inning. In the second inning, Tampa capitalized on defensive miscues and strung together a series of hits, including RBI contributions from Reynolds, Fantone, Kiester, and Alexa Russo. The Spartans extended their lead to 11-0 with a two-run double by Russo in the third inning. Kate DeSimone (W, 5-0) threw three dominant innings, allowing just one hit while striking out five.

Top Performers (Game One)

• Kenzie Reynolds: 1-for-1, 2 RBI, 1 run
• Lauren Fantone: 1-for-3, triple, RBI, 2 runs
• Mariah Galhouse: 2-for-2, RBI double, 1 run
• Alexa Russo: 1-for-3, 2 RBI
• Kate DeSimone (W, 5-0): 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 K

Game Two Highlights

Tampa used a balanced attack to defeat Caldwell 7-2. Mariah Galhouse controlled the game in the circle, pitching a complete game while allowing no earned runs. After a slow start, the Spartans broke through in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Mckenna Demartino. Galhouse helped her own cause with an RBI triple in the third. Tampa put the game out of reach in the fourth with a three-run frame, including another RBI triple from Demartino. Demartino’s third inning sacrifice fly gave Tampa an early lead. In the fourth, Galhouse tripled to drive in Fantone, making it 2-0. Tampa would put up three more runs, highlighted by Demartino’s second RBI triple and a single from Reynolds. An error in the fifth inning allowed Galhouse to score, extending the lead to 6-1. Galhouse (W, 9-0) was outstanding, allowing six hits but no earned runs in her complete-game effort.

Top Performers (Game Two)

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Vittoria Blasigh scored 20 points, Carla Brito added 17 and No. 3-seed South Florida defeated Rice 69-62 on Wednesday night to win the American Athletic Conference championship.

The Bulls will return to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year absence. It will be South Florida’s 10th trip to March Madness.

South Florida led 47-32 halfway through the third quarter before Malia Fisher scored six points in a 10-4 run that got the defending-champion Owls within 51-42 heading to the fourth quarter.

AAC Rice South Florida Basketball

Ninth-seeded Rice opened the fourth with another four points and held USF scoreless for nearly four minutes. At that point, Mama Dembele scored twice in the paint to put the Bulls back up by nine.

Fisher scored in the paint to get Rice within 62-57 with 40 seconds left, then the Bulls closed out the win by making 7 of 8 free throws.

Dembele had 13 points and eight assists and Sammie Puisis scored 12 points for the Bulls (23-10). Blasigh had six rebounds plus three assists and Brito contributed nine rebounds and three assists. South Florida made 16 of 19 free throws.

South Florida’s Sammie Puisis, left, and Carla Brito (55) guard as Rice’s Sussy Ngulefac, works to take a shot in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the womens final of the American Athletic Conference Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Sussy Ngulefac had 19 points, Fisher 17 and Dominique Ennis 14 for Rice (17-17).

Brito scored seven points in the first quarter and Blasigh added five as the Bulls took an 18-12 lead into the second quarter. A three-point play by Blasigh put USF up 27-16 with four minutes left in the half and they went on to lead 37-26 at halftime after she closed the scoring with another jumper. Blasigh and Brito led the way with 12 points each in the first half.

South Florida never trailed and there was one tie at 2-2. ___

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Rice forward Malia Fisher (1) shoots over South Florida’s Carla Brito (55) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the women’s final of the American Athletic Conference tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

AAC Rice South Florida Basketball

Rice’s Sussy Ngulefac prepares to shoot as South Florida’s L’or Mputu (21) defends in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the womens final of the American Athletic Conference Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

AAC Rice South Florida Basketball

Rice center Shelby Hayes, center, looks to make a pass as South Florida’s L’or Mputu, left, and Carla Brito, right defend in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the women’s final of the American Athletic Conference tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

South Florida’s L’or Mputu, center rear, celebrates sinking a basket as Rice’s Aniah Alexis, from left, Dominique Ennis (11) and Pace Rickard, right, walk past in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the women’s final of the American Athletic Conference tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Rice forward Malia Fisher, center, is fouled taking a shot as South Florida’s Mama Dembele (4) and Carla Brito (55) defend in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the women’s final of the American Athletic Conference tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)