Updated May 15, 2026, 7:55 p.m. PT

The Washington Huskies began their 32nd consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament with a disheartening 3-1 loss to the South Florida Bulls at the Fayetteville Regional.

Coach Heather Tarr’s team was able to put together 7 hits against AAC Pitcher of the Year Anne Long, but she had some stellar defense behind her as she earned her 22nd win of the year. The Bulls turned a pair of double plays and flashed the leather left and right as Long tossed a complete game, with UW’s one run coming on a solo homer from Jadyn Glab in the second inning, while the USF star walked 2 batters and struck out 5.

Ava Carroll and Ally Hetzel were both able to muster a pair of hits for the Huskies, but it wasn’t enough, as USF put together a seventh-inning rally to take the day.

They were led by second baseman Kathy Garcia-Soto, who reached four times going 3-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, while All-AAC First Team shortstop Alex Wilkes went 3-for-4 with a run batted in, and center fielder Alexa Galligani went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored.

Sophomore ace Morgan Reimer took the loss for the Huskies to drop to 23-8 on the year on a night where the Bulls were all over her. She worked 6 2/3 innings and surrendered 3 runs (2 earned) on 11 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts in the contest.

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Now, the Huskies will have to rebound quickly. They’ll face Fordham at 1:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, May 16, in a win-or-go-home scenario.

Top 7- Bulls chase Reimer, 3-1 South Florida

After a quick out, the Bulls were able to string together four straight hits in the frame, highlighted by a single into left from Galligani to chase in Olivia Elliott. Following her third hit of the day, Garcia-Soto tried to take advantage of a bad throw and follow her teammate home, but Alexis DeBoer tagged her out after she crashed towards the plate on the errant throw. Then, Wilkes provided the finishing blow for Reimer by poking a single that bounced off of Teasley’s glove to double the lead by pushing Galligani across before Sophia Ramuno struck out Pierce to end the inning.

Reimer’s final line: 6 2/3 innings, 11 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 2 walks, 6 strikeouts

Bottom 6- USF defense ends another UW threat

Carroll was able to give the Huskies the spark they were looking for with a leadoff infield single, but it was erased quickly after Melody Acevedo hit a sharp ground ball at first baseman Jamia Nelson, who added to the Bulls’ program record with their 39th double play of the year.

Top 6- Bulls go quietly

Make that 6 strikeouts for Reimer, who made quick work of the USF order as the Huskies are looking to find a late spark on offense to move on and face Arkansas in the winner’s bracket on Saturday.

Bottom 5- Long works around two-out hit

Giselle Alvarez collected the first hit against Long for any of the top three members of Washington’s order on the day after Burdick struck out and DeBoer grounded out, but it didn’t amount to much after a soft grounder to first from Glab ended the inning.

Top 5- Reimer K’s a pair

The Canadian-born ace is up to 4 strikeouts on the day after working around a leadoff single to Garcia-Soto, getting Pierce and Galligani to whiff in the frame and keep the game tied.

Bottom 4- Wilkes robs Huskies

After Ava Carroll stung a single to open the inning, the Bulls’ star flashed the leather with a diving play up the middle to steal a hit from Melody Acevedo, turning it into a double play. The Huskies were able to muster two more baserunners on a bunt from Sophi Mazzola and Ally Hetzel’s second knock of the game, but Marley Teasley struck out to end the inning.

Top 4- Burdick’s diving play ends a scoring chance

Third baseman Jamia Nelson was able to give the Bulls a baserunner with a one-out single, and after Reimer was able to strike out catcher Kiley Strott, she walked right fielder Toryn Fulton to give the Bulls a real threat with the top of the lineup coming up. However, Burdick made a diving play in shallow center field to grab a sinking line drive and get UW out of the inning unscathed.

Bottom 3- Huskies go quickly

After a rough second frame, Long settled back in and got Burdick and DeBoer to ground out quickly before Alvarez worked a walk to get the inning to Glab. However, the NFCA All-Mountain Region Third Team honoree struck out looking.

Top 3- Bulls even things up, 1-1

Reimer was able to collect two quick outs before things spiraled quickly. The Bulls strung together three consecutive hits, starting with a double from Garcia-Soto, before Galligani poked a single into right field to even things up. USF was able to get runners on second and third after a passed ball, but Washington’s ace struck out designated player Kharys Pierce to end the threat.

Bottom 2- Huskies strike first, 1-0 Washington

Catcher Jadyn Glab got the Huskies on the board quickly, sending a laser beam to dead center for her 11th home run of the season. After a pair of groundouts, right fielder Sophi Mazzola was able to draw a two-out walk, and designated player Ally Hetzel notched a single, but second baseman Marley Teasley popped out to end the threat.

Top 2- Defense helps out Reimer

After a pair of singles to open the inning, Dania Brooks laid down a sacrifice bunt to give the Bulls runners on second and third and one out. However, a heads-up play by shortstop Melody Acevedo cut down Alex Wilkes at the plate on a soft-hit ball up the middle to keep the game tied.

Bottom 1- Anne Long looks dominant

The AAC Pitcher of the Year struck out Kaycie Burdick and Giselle Alvarez, while getting Alexis DeBoer grounded out in a fast first inning.

Top 1- Bulls go quietly

After a one-out walk to Kathy Garcia-Soto, Morgan Reimer was able to rebound quickly by getting center fielder Alexa Galligani to line into a double play.

Washington’s starting lineupHow to watch Washington vs. South Florida

The game will be broadcast on ESPN 2 and is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. PT, but it will begin much later, depending on the end result of Arkansas vs. Fordham in the opening game, which was delayed due to lightning in the area.

Click here for more information.

Washington takes on South Florida in the Fayetteville Regional

The Washington Huskies will open their 32nd consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament with a matchup with the South Florida Bulls on Friday night in Fayetteville, Arkansas, as coach Heather Tarr’s team is looking to make it past the regionals for the first time since 2023.

The Huskies will have plenty of star power to rely on in the lineup, led by All-Big Ten First Team and NFCA All-Mountain Region First Team honorees Alexis DeBoer and Giselle Alvarez. The former followed up on being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2025 with a strong sophomore campaign, leading the team with 18 home runs, 45 runs scored, 1.221 OPS, and 36 walks, while her .359 batting average, 122 total bases, 60 hits, and 51 runs batted in all ranked inside the top five on the roster.

The latter’s .376 batting average, 68 hits, 53 RBIs, and 126 total bases all led the Huskies, while her career-high 15 home runs trailed just DeBoer, and she added 37 runs scored, 11 doubles, a 1.110 OPS, and 5 stolen bases on the year to anchor the middle of the order, which should prove to be quite a challenge for Bulls ace Anne Long.

Long, who was named the American Athletic Conference’s Pitcher of the Year, has been dominant all year. She holds a 21-5 record with a 1.62 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and .207 batting average against with 14 complete games and a 106:51 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

At the plate, the Bulls are led in practically every category by All-AAC First Teamer Alex Wilkes, who boasts a .339 batting average and 1.006 OPS with 57 hits, 16 doubles, 9 home runs, and 48 RBIs.

The winner will move on to play the winner of Arkansas vs. Fordham as the Huskies look to return to the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2023.