Corrick was exceptional in the loss, striking out nine over eight innings pitched. The USF-Georgia State game was cancelled.
TAMPA, Feb. 8, 2020 – The University of South Florida softball team engaged in a pitcher’s duel with No. 17 Michigan and forced extra innings, but a timely base hit gave the Wolverines the 2-1 win after eight innings. The Bulls game against Georgia State, originally scheduled to close out the day, was cancelled due to tournament rules and will not be rescheduled.
Both USF’s Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) and Michigan’s Meghan Beaubien started the game strong. Corrick used four pitches to sit the Wolverines down in order to begin the game. While USF had AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Pa.) and Brooke Leistl (Valrico, Fla.) reach to start its half of the first, a double play ended the inning before the Bulls could reach home plate.
Overall, through three innings, each pitcher only faced one batter over the minimum.
In the fourth, the bats started to come alive. The Wolverines pressured the USF defense, putting runners on the corners with only one out. A single brought home a run, but Corrick ended the inning with two strikeouts to limit the damage.
South Florida wasted no time in its response. Megan Pierro (Lutz, Fla.) drew a walk and stole second to set up Madison Epperson (Tampa, Fla.), who drove Pierro home with a single down the left field line and tied the game heading into the fifth.
Pitchers focused back in after the fourth. Both sides had runners reach third one more time, but Corrick and Beaubien worked their way out of any challenges to maintain the 1-1 tie and forcing extra innings.
Using the international tiebreaker procedures, with the start of extra innings a baserunner was placed on second to begin each half of the inning starting in the eighth. Michigan drove their runner home off a single and loaded the bases, but Corrick forced a double play to limit the damage. Beaubien then sat the Bulls down in order to clinch the 2-1 win for Michigan.
Quotable
Coach Jessica Moore on playing No. 17 Michigan close…
“I thought they played well and fought. It was a great game. Those are the things we’re capable of doing, so does it surprise me? Absolutely not. It’s more that I’ve been waiting for this. I’m really happy that they were able to come out and do that against a quality team and a quality pitcher. It’s inspiring and it’s showing them what they can do. They have to prove it to themselves. If there’s any doubt, we have to get rid of it. It showed them that they can get after it with the best.”
Notables
- Epperson had her first RBI as a Bull in the game.
- Leistl and Bruni both went 2-for-4 in the game. The duo lead Bulls hitters so far this season, posting .500 and .455 batting averages, respectively. Each hitter also has an OPS of 1.045.
Up Next
USF plays the final game of the USF-Rawlings Invitational against No. 7 Florida. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 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 –
