> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # USF Softball: Tallahassee Regional Preview - URL: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/usf-softball-tallahassee-regional/ - Published: 2025-05-14T10:02:26.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-21T15:47:29.000Z - Description: Let's do a little dive into the Tally Regional, shall we? - Author: Collin Sherwin - Tags: #Migrated-1792597384348, #Import 2026-10-21 15:44 # USF Softball is back in the Postseason The Bulls won the American Athletic Conference Tournament this past Saturday, guaranteeing their spot in a Softball Regional for the first time since 2013 (USF had made a regional in six of the last ten non-Covid seasons thanks to some stellar regular season play). But, not much has changed, as the Bulls are playing in the Tallahassee Regional for the fourth time in the last 10 years. Which, we guess is a change of pace compared to going to Gainesville eight times since the year 2000. The Tallahassee Super Regional, featuring the titular Florida State Seminoles as the host team, and fifth overall seed in this year’s NCAA Softball Tournament, is paired with the Lubbock Regional (more on that later). The other teams paired with USF and FSU will be Robert Morris and Auburn as the four seed and two seed respectively. In this preview, we will do a quick glimpse at these opponents, and what the Bulls could be facing this postseason. ### Format Reminder NCAA Softball Regionals and Super Regionals are double elimination, consisting of a winner’s bracket and a loser’s bracket. Whomever emerges from the Regional will move on to the Super Regional, which will be a best-of-three series. The name of the game is load management for your pitchers, and understanding key batting situations to ensure you don’t get too high nor too low throughout the postseason. USF has made it to the Super Regionals twice, and the Women’s College World Series once before, but they have a tall task to face in Tallahassee over the next week. ### First Up, Auburn Auburn is coming to Tallahassee with an overall deceptive record, sitting at 32-22 in the regular season, and 6-19 in SEC play. The SEC was an absolute gauntlet this year, so the Tigers are well battle tested coming into this matchup. They started the year 11-0, including a marquee win over #9 Oklahoma State, and lost only one game prior to SEC play starting up. The Tigers won two of three against Kentucky, Georgia, and South Carolina, but were swept by everyone else in the SEC. But, once again, don’t be deceived by a poor SEC record, this Auburn team is extremely dangerous. USF hitters will most likely be facing either SJ Geurin or Haley Rainey, who lead the Tigers in innings pitched and games played this year. SJ is their Lefty Ace, boasting a 2.79 ERA, 90 strikeouts, and four saves on the year. Haley is their Righty Ace, with a strong 4.20 ERA, 57 strikeouts, and a 1.90 WHIP. At the plate, Auburn has a team batting average of .266, but can crank it with a .449 slugging percentage, along with 60 homers on the year. AnnaLea Adams (.409), Nelia Peralta (.354), and Abbey Smith (.315) lead the team in batting average based on number of games played; and the three of them have combined for 20 of their homers on the year. The main girl to watch will end up being Icess Tresvik, a utility player who steals bases, makes ludicrous catches in the outfield, and will even throw a few pitches every now and then for the Tigers. ### Next, Robert Morris Depending on how Game One goes, USF could find themselves in the Loser’s Bracket, facing off against Robert Morris, the winners of the Horizon League who finished the regular season with a 30-16 overall record and 16-7 in conference play. The Colonials have a marquee win over Pitt, but mostly beat up on inferior opponents throughout the year. Their pitching Ace is righty Madison DeVault, who has a 2.41 ERA in 139.2 innings pitched, by far the most on the team. The next two gals, Kaitlyn Molitores and Madelyn Coleman, have pitched less than 60 innings a piece, and have a respectable 3.67 and 4.18 ERA respectively. Hitting appears to be their strength, as the team has a .308 batting average, and a .512 slugging percentage. Six of the nine usual starters have batting average over .300, with even hitting statistics throughout the team. The batting leaders are Kaylyn Hopf and Mary Brant, both with a. .367 batting average, over 50 hits on the year with Brant being the power hitter with 11 homers between the two. ### Finally, the Hosts, FSU The Seminoles are the hosts, and by far the favorites to advance out of the Tallahassee Regional. After a 46-9 regular season and 18-3 in ACC play, the ‘Noles were upset by Clemson in the championship game, tarnishing a phenomenal regular season that they will be looking to avenge as hosts. With a deep pitching staff that crowned a 2.23 team ERA, FSU’s pitchers bring a wide range of finesse and speed to the circle. lead by Ace Ashtyn Danley, who finished the season with a 1.76 ERA in 91.2 innings pitched and an impressive 12-1 record. Behind her is Jazzy Francis with a 1.62 ERA, seven saves, 82 strikeouts, and an absurd .92 WHIP; she’s more of a closer for the ‘Noles. Annabell Widra and Julia Apsel also made significant appearances for FSU, with over 66 innings pitched a piece and appeared in over 20 games. Pitching wise, you can see why FSU is the favorite, but their bats are what have lead them to the number 5 overall seed. Isa Torres leads the team with a .447 batting average, a .640 slugging percentage, with 88 hits, 44 RBI, and has only struck out **four* times the entire season.* FSU’s leader in RBI, Kennedy Harp, did suffer a season ending injury a few weeks ago, howeverthe entire team brings a .355 batting average, 76 homers thanks to a .590 slugging percentage, and have scored nearly 400 runs this season. ### On the Other Side Over in Lubbock, Texas Tech hosts the Lubbock regional as the #12 National seed. They’ll face Brown in their opening match, and will face off with either Mississippi State or Washington to try to get to the Super Regional. Texas Tech is the clear favorite here as well, boasting 2024 pitcher of the year NiJaree Canady to lead them to battle, but Washington is a powerhouse who had a down year, and Mississippi State is a battle tested SEC team looking to pounce. ### Predictions USF will have to bring their absolute A-Game in every facet of the diamond this regional if they hope to advance. Such is life, always being paired with FSU and UF in bat sports. Belle Sardja and Payton Dixon were First Team All-Conference pitchers for a reason, they’ve dealt with huge brand name opponents all year, and USF’s team batting average of .326 and .516 slugging percentage is one of the best in recent memory. They already have a shiny new trophy added to the trophy case, so the year is already a bit of a success; which is fortunate considering their draw here in the postseason. I’m predicting USF to lose to Auburn, beat Robert Morris in the loser’s bracket, but eventually be eliminated before making it to the Super Regionals.