USF softball, needing a strong showing on the final weekend of the regular season to keep a spot in the Big East tournament, got two crucial wins Saturday at Georgetown.

The Bulls (24-28, 9-12) got dominant pitching in both games -- freshman Lindsey Richardson struck out 10 in a complete-game 4-2 win, and then Capri Catalano and Kristen Gordon combined for a two-hit shutout in a 5-0 win.

USF entered the weekend in a tie for ninth place in the standings, on the outside of the tournament field looking in. But with Saturday's two wins, the Bulls have nearly clinched a spot in the tournament. Seton Hall (8-14) can't catch the Bulls now, leaving Rutgers (8-12) and Connecticut (7-13) as the only teams left as a threat to the Bulls.

USF can clinch a spot in the tournament by winning Sunday at Georgetown, or with a loss by Rutgers and Connecticut. Because of the league's new scheduling format this year, the Bulls didn't play either the Scarlet Knights or Huskies, so there is no head-to-head tiebreaker.