USF wins a pair of 4-3 decisions, including a marathon, 12-inning game two
TAMPA, FLA. March 10, 2021 – The University of South Florida softball team won its midweek doubleheader with two 4-3 victories against the New Mexico State Aggies. The Bulls took game one, 4-3, then outlasted the Aggies in a 12-inning game two, 4-3.
Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) earned the win in the circle for both games, tallying 31 strikeouts in 14.1 innings pitched. Bethaney Keen (Bradenton, Fla.) hit the walk-off single in game two and went 5-for-9 with two RBIs in the doubleheader. Brooke Leistl (Valrico, Fla.) also had an impressive day at the plate, going 4-for-9 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Game One – USF 4, NMST 3
Both teams brought runs across the plate in game one. New Mexico State hit a solo home run in the top of the inning off the bat of Matalasi Faapito. The Bulls quickly answered in the bottom of the first. Alanah Rivera (St. Petersburg, Fla.) doubled home Keen and then scored herself on a Corrick groundout later in the inning to give the Bulls a 2-1 lead.
USF extended its lead in the bottom of the second. Jordyn Kadlub (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) tripled home Josie Foreman (West Palm Beach, Fla.) to push the leads to 3-1.
The Aggies tied the game in the top of the third. A walk and a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded scored two for New Mexico State, evening the game at 3-3. USF responded in the fourth, ending the scoring in the game as Natalie Zweig (Tampa, Fla.) scored on a fielder’s choice to put the Bulls back on top, 4-3.
Corrick shut down the New Mexico State offense after, earning the complete-game victory while striking out 16 batters in seven innings in the circle.
Game Two – USF 4, NMST 3 (12 innings)
Game two started similarly to game one. Faapito homered to give the Aggies the early lead in the top of the first, but the Bulls wasted no time in taking the lead in their half of the inning. Leistl singled home Alexis Johns (Sarasota, Fla.) to start the scoring and then scored off a Keen single three batters later. AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Pa.) capped the scoring in the first on an error during a Rivera single.
New Mexico State tied the game in the third with a two-run homer off the bat of Ramsey Lopez. The Aggies home run scored the last runner to cross the plate for nine innings. After the fifth inning, both starters from game one, Corrick and New Mexico State’s Faapito dueled in the circle, stranding every runner that reached base well into extra innings.
Still tied heading into the tenth, the international tiebreaker was implemented and each team started their at-bats with a runner on second. The teams remained deadlocked until the 12th inning. New Mexico State threatened in the top of the inning and nearly scored; however, the inning was ended with Corrick tossing a bunt to Foreman to tag out the Aggies’ Audrey Shebloski.
The Bulls broke through in the bottom half of the inning. Leistl started the inning on second and was singled to third by Bruni. Two batters later, Keen ended the stalemate with a single to left that fell in front of the fielder that allowed Leistl to score, giving the Bulls the doubleheader sweep.
Notables
- The Bulls stole six bases in game two and eight bases overall. Bruni stole three, while Leistl and Johns swiped two and Megan Pierro (Lutz, Fla.) took one.
- Corrick moved up to No. 2 on USF’s all-time strikeouts list with 644 in her career. She entered the game fourth on the list with 613 and surpassed Leigh Ann Ellis (633; 2003-04) and Monica Triner (641; 1996-99) with her 31 strikeouts in the doubleheader.
- Rivera recorded seven assists in game two, just three off the single-game record set by Triner against South Carolina in 1999.
- Bruni now has sole possession of No. 6 on USF’s career stolen bases list with 69.
- Foreman recorded her first collegiate hit in game one.
Quotable
Assistant Coach Tommy Santiago on tonight’s doubleheader…
“The fight throughout the whole game, the team had it. (Before today), they’ve shown glimpses of fight and we need more of that. They showed it tonight and they needed that. It was good to see that we came out and fought for that long period of time. It was good to see, good to come out with two Ws.“
Up Next
USF plays a three-game set against Team USA, beginning on Friday, March 12th. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+. Due to virus mitigation measures and the size of the venue, fan attendance at USF Softball Stadium will be limited to team pass lists only.
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 –
