USF SOFTBALL: Bulls Sweep Doubleheader to Begin Weekend at Houston

A 1-0 win in a pitcher’s duel and a 14-1 offensive showing in game two kept USF unbeaten in conference play

TAMPA, Fla. April 1, 2021 – The University of South Florida softball team (16-6, 6-0 AAC) extended its win streak to 13 games as they swept a doubleheader against Houston (9-20, 0-6 AAC) to begin a four-game weekend series. After a 1-0 win in game one, USF’s offense powered a 14-1 victory in six innings in game two.

Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) lengthened her streak of innings without an earned run to 55.1, dating back to New Mexico State on March 10. AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Pa.) went 5-for-7 in the doubleheader, tallying three runs with three RBIs. Nicole Bechtel (Harrisburg, Pa.) hit her first collegiate home run in game two.

Game One – USF 1, UH 0

Both pitchers started game one strong. Each sat their opponents down in order in the first. Kyndall Williams (Trenton, Fla.) tallied USF’s first hit with a single in the second, but Houston’s defense held and she was stranded.

The Bulls broke through in the fourth. AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Pa.) singled to begin the inning and was moved to second on a Megan Pierro (Lutz, Fla.) ground out. In the next at-bat, Brooke Hartman (Port Orange, Fla.) singled to right-center and drove home Bruni to give USF the lead.

Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) battled back from two bases loaded situations in the last three innings. The junior shut the Cougars down in both situations to keep Houston off the board and earn the complete-game shutout victory.

Game Two – USF 14, UH 1 (6 inn.)

While game one was a pitcher’s duel, USF’s offense picked up in game two. Nicole Bechtel started the scoring in the third inning, leading off the frame with a home run. Three batters later, Bruni reached on a bunt single, stole second, then scored on a single from Pierro. After stealing second herself, Pierro scored as Hartman reached on an error, giving USF a 3-0 lead.

In the next inning, Williams reached on an error and Bechtel was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Two batters later, Alexis Johns (Sarasota, Fla.) doubled home Williams to add to USF’s lead. Bruni singled next to drive home Bechtel and Johns to put the Bulls up 6-0.

Houston responded in the fourth, with a run coming across on a wild pitch to cut USF’s lead to five. The Bulls offense continued its success in the sixth. Bruni singled home a run, followed by another RBI from Pierro on a sac-fly gave USF an 8-1 lead. Hartman used the next at-bat to send a three-run home run over the left-field fence. Later in the inning, Natalie Zweig (Tampa, Fla.) forced a run home on a hit-by-pitch and Dezarae Maldonado (Winter Haven, Fla.) singled home two more to end the scoring, cementing USF’s 14-1 victory.

Notables

  • USF’s 14 runs in game two are the most since the Bulls scored 18 against Marshall on Feb. 21, 2015.
  • This is USF’s sixth run-rule victory of the season.
  • Bruni’s three RBIs ties her career high, previously set against Texas State in 2019.

Quotable

Head coach Ken Eriksen on today’s wins…

“Today was a total team effort. I hate to sound like ‘coach-speak’ but you can go up and down the line-up to pick key contributions throughout the two games from many of our players. Great pitching, good defense and timely hitting was the recipe for today’s successes.”

Up Next

USF continues its weekend series against Houston with a single game tomorrow at 3 p.m. The game 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 informationThe 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 –