Corrick allowed just one runner on a walk as she recorded her fourth career no-hitter and second on the season;
Eriksen becomes just the 28th NCAA Division-I coach to reach 1,000 wins
TAMPA, Fla. April 30, 2021 – Junior pitcher Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) came within a hair of recording just the fourth perfect game in program history as the University of South Florida softball team (25-12; 13-3 AAC) recorded a 5-0, no-hit victory over ECU (11-30; 2-15 AAC) to earn head coach Ken Eriksen’s 1,000th career win Friday at the USF Softball Stadium.
Corrick, an All-American and two-time AAC Pitcher of the Year, allowed just one base runner, via a walk, in recording her second no-hitter this season and the fourth of her career. She posted nine strikeouts to move her career total to 804 (second all-time at USF) as she faced just one batter over the minimum in dispatching the Pirates in her 30th career shutout (third all-time). It marked Corrick’s 19th victory and 11th shutout on the year. She entered the game ranked eighth in wins and third in shutouts nationally.
The dominant pitching display ended in a cooler shower for Eriksen, who became just the 28th NCAA Division-I coach to reach 1,000 wins and just the second to do it entirely in the state of Florida. It also kept the Bulls at the top of the American Athletic Conference standings as the USF seeks its third straight regular season conference title and fourth in the last five seasons.
“I think I glanced up in the fifth and saw the scoreboard,” Corrick said. “It’s out by out and play by play. You look at Kyndall making these important plays, the pop ups we are making plays on in foul territory. Those are huge momentum changers and I think a no-hitter is all about momentum and you carry it forward as long as you can.
“I knew that this was a really important day for him (Coach Eriksen) and a really important moment, and I think maybe physically I needed to take on a little bit more of that because he means so much to me. The fact that we were able to align the stars like this is incredible and it means everything to me, and I hope it means everything to him that we were able to have this moment together.”
The Bulls used a four-run third inning to break the game open. Jordyn Kadlub (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) and Alexis Johns (Sarasota, Fla.) reached base on a walk and a fielder’s choice. AnaMarie Bruni (Schwensville, Pa.) loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. Kyndall Williams (Trenton, Fla.) put the first runs on the board with a two-run double up the middle. Bethaney Keen (Bradenton, Fla.) walked to again load the bases. Josie Foreman (West Palm Beach, Fla.) singled up the middle to score Bruni and Megan Pierro (Lutz, Fla.) scored Williams on a sacrifice fly.
The teams cruised through the fourth before the Bulls added an insurance run with some base running in the fifth. Foreman walked and Brooke Leistl (Valrico, Fla.) pitch ran. Leistl advanced to third on a Pierro single and then scored on a double-steal with Pierro also advancing to second.
Corrick needed just 18 more pitches through the final two innings to deliver the Bulls’ 25th victory of the season and another major milestone in a career full of them for Eriksen.
Quotable
Head coach Ken Eriksen on today’s game…
“It’s been fun to come in here (USF) as a freshman in 1979 and to now see my coaches that were here back then be here to celebrate today. You take a look back and sometimes you will reflect on ‘boy, I’ve come a long way’ and ‘how did I get here’ and there are a lot of people that have that really impactful time and era in my life to make that happen.”
“We’ve graduated every single one of our players, and that is the craziest thing to think about. That’s one of those statistics, at an academic school, that people don’t realize and then where we have been with grade-point averages, way above the mean and top ten percent of our sport. Where are kids are in the professional field? That’s the life that they have gotten and this (the game) is just part of that. Our alumni events are packed, which means it’s been a good experience for them. That’s what you’re trying to do.”
Notables
- Corrick now has 253 strikeouts on the season, which ranks seventh on USF’s single season list just behind her 260 recorded in 2019. Sara Nevins owns the record of 336 set in 2012.
- Corrick recorded her 71st career win, which is now just three short of second all-time in the AAC. Alea White (UCF) owns he record with 94.
- Corrick’s 803 career strikeouts are 100 short of the AAC record of 903. Her 30 shutouts are just one short of the AAC record of 31.
- Bruni needs just two stolen bases to set a new USF single-season record. She currently has 32 on the year, one shy of the mark of 33 set by Shelly Riker set in 2002.
Up Next
USF continues the weekend series with ECU with a double-header Saturday starting at 11 a.m. Due to virus mitigation measures and the size of the venue, fan attendance will be limited to team pass list only at USF Softball Stadium. All four games in the set 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 –
