The AAC-favorite Bulls face off against two Power Five opponents during opening weekend while celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day
Event: Illinois State // USF-Rawlings Invitational
USF Schedule:
| Thursday, Feb. 6 | Friday, Feb. 7 | Saturday, Feb. 8 | Sunday, Feb. 9 | ||||
| Illinois State (3:30 p.m.) | Watch Listen Stats | Fresno State (4:30 p.m.) | Watch Listen Stats | Michigan (4:15 p.m.) | Watch Listen Stats | Florida (2:30 p.m.) | Listen Stats |
| Georgia State (8:45 p.m.) | Listen Stats |
Location: USF Softball Stadium
TAMPA, Feb. 5, 2020 – The University of South Florida softball team opens its regular-season slate with an opening weekend event filled with challenges. The Bulls will battle two Power Five opponents, including two teams that are currently ranked in the NFCA poll and another that is receiving votes.
USF opens the season with a Thursday night game against Illinois State on Thursday, before beginning its slate of games in the USF-Rawlings Invitational on Friday. Over the weekend, the Bulls will face off against Georgia State (Feb. 8 at 8:45 p.m.), Fresno State (RV) (Feb. 7 at 4:30 p.m.), No. 17/14 Michigan (Feb. 8 at 4:15 p.m.) and No. 7/9 Florida (Feb. 9 at 2:30 p.m.).
The start time for the USF-Illinois State game has been moved to Thursday at 3:30 p.m. The game was originally scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. No other games have been affected due to this change.
National Girls and Women in Sports Day
Throughout the weekend, the Bulls are celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Dr. Judy Genshaft will be honored during pregame ceremonies on Thursday prior to the game against Illinois State. National Girls and Women in Sport Day celebrates the past, recognizes current sports achievements, and celebrates the move toward equality and access for women in sports. All institutions that make up the American Athletic Conference select an honoree who demonstrates a commitment to women’s sports.
President Genshaft’s impact on women in USF Athletics has been profound during her tenure. Her laser-like focus on raising achievement levels across the USF System and building what has become one of the nation’s Top 25 public research universities has created a culture of achievement and excellence that extends to women student-athletes, coaches and administrators. By firmly establishing student success and well-being as the institution’s first priority, former USF President Genshaft has been instrumental in developing an atmosphere in women’s athletics that emphasizes academic achievement, inclusion and equity, and meaningful personal development. Her legacy can be seen in mentoring initiatives that provide student-athletes with real-world career skills; in community service initiatives that connect women’s athletics to the public to be known as leaders in their own right.
In 2010, she made history when she received the unanimous vote to become the first woman to chair the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, and she also has served as chair of the American Athletic Conference Council. President Genshaft is a woman who has broken down barriers throughout her leadership tenure. In 2005, she led community philanthropists in the founding of Women in Leadership & Philanthropy, which since its inception has distributed over $418,000 in scholarships and faculty research awards, while providing thousands of hours of leadership education and mentoring. USF’s female student-athletes are frequent participants in these positive and productive programs.
USF’s celebration is one of more than 500 events taking place across the country for National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The day is devoted to recognizing the progress of girls and women in sports, and the benefits that sports and fitness activities can bring to the lives of all girls and women. The day is organized nationally by the Women’s Sports Foundation; to learn more, visit www.NGSWD.org.
The Bulls will also recognize various achievements of current and former players throughout the weekend. On Thursday, the team will receive its conference championship rings after winning the 2019 regular season title in The American. Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) will also be honored as the 2019 AAC Pitcher of the Year, while now-student assistant coach Macy Cook will be recognized as the 2019 AAC Defensive Player of the Year.
On Friday, USF’s five 2019 All-AAC honorees – Meghan Sheehan (all-rookie team), AnaMarie Bruni (first team), Corrick (first team), Lindsey Devitt (second team) and Brooke Hartman (second team) – will be recognized. On Saturday prior to the Michigan game, Corrick will honored for being named a 2019 NFCA All-American while Sara Nevins will throw out the first pitch in recognition of her induction to the USF Athletics Hall of Fame. USF will wrap up the weekend by celebrating its student-athletes who were named to the 2019 AAC All-Academic Team.
Scouting the Opponents
Illinois State (Feb. 6 at 3:30 p.m.)
Illinois State finished the 2019 season with a 18-33 record and a 11-10 conference record, ranking sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference. The team returns six of its 10 starters from last season, including its leading pitcher, Morgan Day. The junior finished with a 3.26 ERA and a 10-16 record.
Last season, the Bulls won its meeting with the Redbirds, 2-1. Overall, South Florida leads the all-time series, 13-2.
USF-Rawlings Invitational Opponents
- RV Fresno State (Feb. 7 at 4:30 p.m.): Fresno State ended 2019 with a 37-20 record and earned a berth to the National Invitational Softball Tournament. The Bullsdogs are returning seven of their starting position players and three of their pitchers in 2020. The Bulls have only faced Fresno State once, in 1986 when the Bulldogs won 4-3.
- No. 17/14 Michigan (Feb. 8 at 4:15 p.m.): Michigan posted a 45-13 record in 2019 while also winning the Big 10 tournament and playing in the NCAA tournament’s regional round. USF has a 10-16 record against Michigan all-time and has won two of its last three meetings against the Wolverines.
- Georgia State (Feb. 8 at 8:45 p.m.): Posting an 8-46 record in 2019, Georgia State will enter the game with a 4-13 record against USF all-time. Caitlyn Ray returns for the Panthers, having led the team with a .305 batting average and 72 total bases last season.
- No. 7/9 Florida (Feb. 9 at 2:30 p.m.): The Gators finished the 2019 season with a 49-18 record, advancing all the way to the Women’s College World Series. This is the first of two meetings between USF and Florida this season, and Florida leads the all-time series, 49-13.
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 –
