Hartman’s homer pushes Bulls past FAU in game one, but the team fell in extras to split the day
TAMPA, FLA. Feb. 28, 2021 – The University of South Florida softball team split the doubleheader against Florida Atlantic on Sunday, earning a 4-2 win in game one but falling 1-0 in extra innings in game two. With the win on Saturday to begin the weekend, the Bulls took two of the three games in the series against the Owls.
Brooke Hartman’s (Port Orange, Fla.) two-run home run turned into the game-winning hit in game one, while Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) continued to dominate on the mound across the two games. Corrick pitched a total of 17 innings over the weekend set, going 1-1 with a save and only allowing one run while striking out 37 batters.
Game One – USF 4, FAU 2
Megan Pierro (Lutz, Fla.) opened the scoring in game one by capitalizing on defensive mistakes in the bottom of the first inning. After reaching on a walk, Pierro stole second and came across to score on the same play because of two FAU throwing errors.
FAU tied the game by stringing together hits in the second, then took a one-run lead off a USF error in the third.
Hartman put the Bulls back in the lead in the fourth. The senior took the first pitch of her at-bat and sent it over the left-field fence to retake the lead, 3-2. USF added an insurance run two innings later. AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Pa.) walked to start the inning, stole second and was driven home by a double off the bat of Bethaney Keen (Bradenton, Fla.) to increase the lead to 4-2.
Corrick earned the save after entering in relief and pitching two shutout innings and Maddie Gardner (Sun Prairie, Wis.) was credited with her first collegiate win in the victory.
Game Two – FAU 1, USF 0 (8 Inn.)
Corrick’s big weekend continued in her second start of the series, as she struck out eight Owl batters in the first three innings. She would go on to throw 17 strikeouts in the game, tying her season-high set yesterday in the first game weekend.
The Bulls had an opportunity to start the scoring in the bottom of the second. Corrick walked to begin the inning and Hartman followed her up with a single to center. Madison Epperson (Tampa, Fla.) walked to load the bases, but back-to-back popouts ended the inning before a run crossed the plate.
Each team ultimately left opportunities on the base paths in the pitchers’ duel. Florida Atlantic stranded five of its runners, while USF would leave seven on the field. FAU earned the win in the top of the eighth. After a leadoff strikeout, the Owls hit three consecutive singles which drove home a run to break the stalemate and take a 1-0 lead. USF couldn’t answer in the bottom of the inning, allowing FAU to escape a series sweep with a win in game three of the weekend.
Notables
- Corrick threw 20 of her 37 strikeouts in the weekend in the doubleheader. She tossed 17 in both of her starts, which was one off in both cases from the USF single-game record of 18 set by Erica Nunn in 2014. Corrick tied that mark last season against Wisconsin.
- Hartman’s two-run shot was her second of the season.
- Corrick has 610 strikeouts in her career.
- Keen and Hartman are tied for the team lead with four RBIs each. Hartman has the team lead in batting average (.316), runs (4) and total bases (13).
Quotable
Head coach Ken Eriksen on Georgina Corrick…
“I think she threw about 165 pitches today throughout and you think, ‘did we get greedy bringing her in in game one to get the W?’ I don’t think we got greedy. Any time you have a chance to knock a W out, you go for it. She did a phenomenal job coming in and getting the save in that one. She had 17 Ks again in game two tonight. She did a great job. She threw 17 innings in two days. In pretty much a 24-hour period, she threw a lot. We asked a lot of her and she did a great job.”
Up Next
The Bulls are back at USF Softball Stadium for a two-game series against Arizona split between Saturday and Sunday. Both 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 –
