An eight-run fourth inning powered the Bulls offense as it tallied 14 hits against the Fighting Hawks
TAMPA, FLA. March 19, 2021 – The University of South Florida softball team’s offense was the driving force in a 12-0 victory against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks on Friday afternoon.
The Bulls tallied 14 hits in the victory including six hits in the fourth inning. Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) limited North Dakota to just two total baserunners and earned the complete-game win.
Corrick struck out the side in the top of the first and sat the Fighting Hawks down in order in the following frame. The Bulls struck first in bottom of the second. Kyndall Williams (Trenton, Fla.) doubled to left-center field and then scored on the next at-bat as Josie Foreman (West Palm Beach, Fla.) doubled to center. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Foreman scored off an Alexis Johns (Sarasota, Fla.) single to give USF a 2-0 lead.
South Florida added another two runs in the third. Corrick doubled home Brooke Hartman (Port Orange, Fla.) and later scored on a Megan Pierro (Lutz, Fla.) single.
In the fourth inning, Bethaney Keen (Bradenton, Fla.) kicked off an offensive surge with a three-run home run. Williams homered in the next at-bat, extending USF’s lead to 8-0. Alanah Rivera (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Jordyn Kadlub (Wesley Chapel, Fla.), Alexis Swearingen (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) and Madison Epperson (Tampa, Fla.) would also score in the fourth to give USF the 12-0 run-rule victory in five innings.
Notables
- The last time USF earned a run-rule victory in five innings was on March 9, 2019, a 12-2 win over St. Johns.
- Bruni stole two bases in the game, the second time she’s swiped multiple bags in one game this season.
- Corrick is now tied with Bree Spence (2005-09) for fifth on USF’s all-time victories list with 57.
- Corrick also tied UCF’s Shelby Turnier for third on the conference’s all-time shutouts list with her 22nd career shutout.
- Pierro has now reached base in her last 13 games dating back to March 4, 2020 against Detroit Mercy.
- Natalie Zweig (Tampa, Fla.) singled in her first at-bat of the season, driving home Epperson in the fourth.
Quotable
Head coach Ken Eriksen on the win…
“Any time that you can keep a team that swings pretty aggressively like North Dakota at zero to give your team a shot, it makes it a little bit easier and more relaxed at the plate. Georgina did that for our team. We weren’t really swinging big today. We were under control and it’s the first time this year that I’ve seen us under control at the plate. Hopefully we can bring that into tomorrow.“
Up Next
The Bulls wrap up the weekend with a doubleheader against North Dakota tomorrow at USF Softball Stadium. First pitch in game one is at 11:30 a.m. Due to virus mitigation measures and the size of the venue, fan attendance will be via team pass list only at USF Softball Stadium. Both games of the doubleheader will be streamed on ESPN+.
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 –
