USF ATHLETICS GoUSFBulls.com
DATE: May 18, 2019
Losses to FSU and South Carolina end the Bulls postseason run in Tallahassee
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 17, 2019 – USF’s impressive 41-19 season came to an end at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional on Saturday evening. The Bulls opened the day with a tough loss to the reigning national champion, No. 4 FSU, and battled to ten full innings against No. 21 South Carolina.
The 2019 season marked the 17th time in program history that the Bulls have recorded 40-plus wins, and the 15th time under head coach Ken Eriksen. USF picked up its third American Athletic Conference regular season title and was awarded the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament for the first time in conference history.
“At the end of the day our senior class finished out a phenomenal season and I couldn’t be more proud of these ladies,” said Eriksen. “It is so tough to play at such a high level for 60 games, yet softball is about the ball bouncing a certain way and tonight it didn’t bounce ours.”
Game 3: FSU 12, USF 1 (5 inn.)
No. 4 FSU (53-8) jumped ahead with an RBI double, an RBI single and a grand slam to lead 6-0 by the top of the third inning. The Seminoles followed up with a two-run bomb in the top of the fourth to go up 8-0.
USF (41-19) got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when freshman Meghan Sheehan (Forest Hill, Md.) and senior Lindsey Devitt (Jacksonville, Fla.) hit back-to-back singles, and a double-steal got Sheehan home.
The Seminoles answered with four consecutive solo homeruns in the fifth inning to deliver USF’s run-rule loss, 12-1.
Game 5: South Carolina 2, USF 1 (10 inn.)
USF struck in the first inning when Devitt sent a solo shot over the wall at left field. The Gamecocks (38-18) answered in the top of the second with an RBI single through the left side to score one and tie it up, 1-1.
South Carolina loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth, but sophomore Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) delivered a clutch swinging strikeout to keep the Gamecocks from scoring.
USF turned a season-high three double-plays against the Gamecocks, including a timely six-four-three putout to take care of a threat in the top of the seventh, and get the Bulls back up to bat.
The teams battled to 10 innings, but South Carolina hit a solo shot over the fence at right field for the game-winner. USF had one remaining at-bat but couldn’t get a rally going
Notable
- USF’s run in the first game of the day was the first run the Noles have given up in 28 innings
- USF’s lineup loses five seniors: Mia Fung, Nicole Doyle, Macy Cook, Lindsey Devitt and Cheyenne Eggens
- 2019 marks USF’s 15th NCAA appearance, 14th under Eriksen
- Head coach Ken Eriksen completed his 23rd season
- Corrick pitched 19.1 innings in two days
- Devitt finished her senior season with a team-leading seven home runs
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 15 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.
– #GoBulls –
Erin Beck // USF Athletics
Assistant Director of Communications
W Soccer, Softball, M&W Tennis
