Corrick, Ponn Combine for USF’s 27th No-Hitter
A no-hit effort from the Bulls’ pitching staff helped lead South Florida to a 7-1 victory.
TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 21, 2020 – The University of South Florida softball team pitched its 27th program no-hitter in a 7-1 victory over FIU. Georgina Corrick pitched six no-hit innings and Vivian Ponn came in to close out the game in the seventh to earn the combined title.
Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) was dominant all game and started off by striking out the game’s first three batters. South Florida (3-7) kept the momentum in the bottom of the first, putting up a run to take the early lead. AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Pa.) singled and stole second to reach scoring position. Madison Epperson (Tampa, Fla.) drove her home two batters later to give USF a 1-0 lead.
FIU evened the score in the third. Two errors in the inning allowed the Panthers to score and even things up at 1-1.
USF battled back in its half of the third. Brooke Hartman (Port Orange, Fla.) doubled and Madison Epperson (Tampa, Fla.) walked to put two runners on for Bethaney Keen. The redshirt junior gave the Bulls a three-run lead with her second home run of the season to center field.
Megan Pierro (Lutz, Fla.) tripled to start USF’s fourth inning, setting up another threat from the Bulls. A single from Brooke Leistl (Valrico, Fla.) drove her home to extend South Florida’s lead to 5-1.
Corrick kept dealing throughout her six innings of work. The junior tallied 11 strikeouts and zero walks without allowing a hit.
The Bulls added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Hartman drove home Meghan Sheehan and Bruni with a single to expand USF’s lead to 7-1.
Ponn (Fort Myers, Fla.) came in to pitch for the Bulls in the seventh. The freshman faced the minimum to earn the combined no-hitter for USF and clinch the 7-1 victory.
Quotable
Coach Moore on bringing in Ponn to complete the no-hitter…
“We’ve got some good games coming up. We have to continue to cultivate. I’ll keep saying that. Yeah, Georgina [Corrick] can go out and maybe she throws a no-hitter solo, but I can also get Vivian [Ponn] out there to help finish off this game for us. I think any time I can get, I’m going to continue to cultivate some of the other pitchers. We know what we’re going to get out of [Corrick]. Now we have to continue to give the other girls a shot to get comfortable because we’re going to throw as a staff.”
Notables
- Bruni extended her hitting streak to 11 games. She has a hit in every ballgame dating back to May 18, 2019 against South Carolina in the NCAA tournament.
- This is USF’s 27th overall and third combined no-hitter. The Bulls’ last no-hitter was thrown by Corrick on March 18, 2018 against UNF. The last combined no-hitter in program history was thrown by Sara Nevins and Erica Nunn against Illinois State in 2014.
Up Next
USF continues play on Saturday in the USF Invitational with a two-game slate. The Bulls face No. 12 Tennessee at 2 p.m., followed by a rematch with the Panthers at 4:30 p.m.
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 –
