The Bulls explode on offense to earn the win
TAMPA, Feb. 10, 2022 – The University of South Florida softball team opened its 2022 season with a 9-2 win over Illinois State on Thursday night. Three straight multi-run innings powered the Bulls past the Redbirds.
Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) earned the win in the circle, tossing nine strikeouts while allowing no earned runs. Alexis Johns (Sarasota, Fla.) went three-for-four in the box with three runs, while Josie Foreman (West Palm Beach, Fla.) and Meghan Sheehan (Forest Hill, Md.) both tallied two RBIs each.
Illinois State struck first in the game. After a runner reached on a dropped third strike and another reached on an error, Chloe Jefferson doubled home both to give the Redbirds the lead in the second.
South Florida responded in the third. Johns reached on a bunt single to start the inning, then stole second to quickly put pressure on the defense. After Sheehan walked in the next at-bat, Rivera advanced the runners with a ground out and Vivian Ponn (Fort Myers, Fla.) singled home Johns to start the scoring. Allana Consolazio (Fort Myers, Fla.) pinch ran for Ponn, and both Consolazio and Sheehan scored off a Foreman double to take the lead. Megan Pierro (Lutz, Fla.) capped the inning by driving home Foreman in the next at-bat.
Already with the 4-2 lead, USF didn’t let up in the fourth. Johns and Sheehan both reached to start the inning, and Rivera doubled home Johns to push the Bulls’ lead to 5-2. Sheehan later scored on an error and Rivera scored on a Pierro sacrifice fly to extend the lead to five.
The Bulls’ offense continued to click in the fifth. After Jordyn Kadlub (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) walked and Johns reached on a single, Sheehan doubled home the pair to cap the scoring at 9-2.
Corrick dealt through the fifth before being relieved by Erin Poepping (Lino Lakes, Minn.) followed by Antoinette Hill (Braidwood, Ill.) and Camryn Dolby (Round Hill, Va.).
Notables
- Johns stole two bases in the game. She’s now stolen 45 in her career and 24 at South Florida.
- Johns scored three runs tonight, the first time a USF player scored three runs in a game since Sheehan against Tulsa on March 23, 2019.
- Corrick is now tied with Leigh Ann Ellis (2003-04) with 77 career victories.
- Poepping, Hill, Consolazio, Abigail Ota (Redding, Conn.), Devyne Davis (Land O’ Lakes, Fla.) and Julia Mrochko (Drums, Pa.) all made their USF debuts tonight.
- Corrick now has 893 career strikeouts, only 10 away from tying Tulsa’s Emily Watson for the most in American Athletic Conference history.
Up Next
The Bulls continue play in the USF-Rawlings Invitational tomorrow at 3 p.m. against Kansas City.
About USF Softball
Be sure to follow USF softball on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. The USF softball program has been one of the most successful on campus, making 16 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.
– #GoBulls –
