Kadlub hits walk-off home run with her first collegiate hit in game one, but a Dolphins offensive surge in game two split the day
TAMPA, FLA. Feb. 21, 2021 – The University of South Florida softball team earned a 1-0, walk-off win in game one, but fell in a run-rule game two in its doubleheader against Jacksonville on Sunday.
Jordyn Kadlub (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) paced the Bulls’ offensive effort on the day. The redshirt-freshman went 2-for-6 across the two games, hitting the game-winning home run in game one and a double that drove in a run in game two. Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) pitched a gem in game one, striking out thirteen batters in eight innings in the circle.
Game One – USF 1, JU 0 (8 Inn.)
Each team pushed a runner into scoring position in the first, but both pitchers settled in afterwards and set their opponents down in order in the second and third. Corrick struck out the side and had six strikeouts through the third inning.
Both teams had another baserunner in the fourth. Brooke Hartman (Port Orange, Fla.) singled and was then pinch ran for by Emilee Hanlon (Dunkirk, N.Y.). Hanlon stole second, but the inning ended before she could advance further.
Jacksonville threatened in the fifth, with Ashley Darakjian reaching third. A pop out to Kyndall Williams (Trenton, Fla.) ended the inning, defusing the threat. With the score tied at zero at the end of seven innings, Jacksonville went down in order in the eighth. After a groundout to begin the inning, Kadlub homered in the next at bat to give the Bulls the victory.
Game Two – JU 14, USF 4 (6 Inn.)
While game one was a pitching duel, game two saw offenses step up. Jacksonville jumped to a 2-0 lead after the first with a two-run home run from Victoria Rodebaugh. Two more runs for the Dolphins in the second and four in the third gave Jacksonville an 8-0 lead after three.
USF battled back in the fourth. Alanah Rivera (St. Petersburg, Fla.) doubled to start the inning, and Bethaney Keen (Bradenton, Fla.) drove her home with a single two batters later. Kadlub then doubled home Keen to cut the deficit to 8-2. Maldonado reached on an error which scored Kadlub to end the inning with a score of 8-3.
USF added another in the fifth, as AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Pa.) scored on an error to cut JU’s lead to 8-4.
Jacksonville ended the scoring in the top of the sixth. Miscues by USF allowed two runs to score to extend the Dolphins lead to 10-4 with the bases loaded. The next batter hit a grand slam to end the scoring at 14-4.
Notables
- Kadlub’s first collegiate hit was the walk-off home run in game one.
- Corrick now ranks at No. 4 on USF’s all-time strikeouts list. With her 13 strikeouts in game one, she now has 573 in her career, passing Lindsey Richardson (2010-13) for the fourth spot. She still sits in third on the conference’s career list.
- Corrick’s shutout in game one is her 20th in her career.
- Bruni now has sole possession of No. 8 on USF’s career stolen bases list with 64 swipes after her two against Jacksonville. The senior surpassed Ashli Goff (2011-14) for the spot.
Quotable
Head coach Ken Eriksen on Jordyn Kadlub…
“She had some good at bats last week against Florida too. If you think about it, her first at bat was a little crazy. It was her first collegiate at-bat, she has to bunt and move the runner over and she panicked a little bit, then she hits a bullet line drive at the third baseman and has a good third at-bat. That young lady has come so far. She got to school here early. She graduated high school early so she gets here early. She revamps her hitting style. Revamps it, completely, where she’s so fluid, she’s so strong. She’s got a good eye. She’s a good athlete, obviously. What she did in game one, and even game two, and what she’s done so far to earn her starting spot is all her hard work. All her hard work and dedication and she’s staying to the game plan of what’s being taught and brought in. It’s really cool to see. I’m really happy for her.”
Jordyn Kadlub on her walk-off home run and at-bat…
“I honestly can’t remember it too much. It was a really exciting moment for everyone. I had been seeing the ball well in my first two at-bats, so I was pretty comfortable at the plate. I was fouling a lot of pitches off so I felt pretty good with that. Coach was saying ‘(get) singles and we’ll win the game’ and my single just happened to go over (the fence).”
Up Next
The Bulls are back at USF Softball Stadium for a three-game set against Florida Atlantic. The teams will play a single game on Saturday and a doubleheader on Sunday. All games will be broadcast on ESPN+. Due to virus mitigation measures and the size of the venue, USF will have limited fan attendance via team pass list only at USF Softball Stadium.
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 –
