The Bulls opened the USF Tournament with back-to-back wins over UIC and FAMU
TAMPA, Fla., March 4, 2022 – The University of South Florida softball team extended its longest win streak of the season to six games with a pair of wins on Friday, defeating Illinois-Chicago, 5-0, followed by a win over Florida A&M, 6-3.
Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) finished the day with a win and a save. She extended her streak of innings without an earned run to 49.1 and her ERA is down to 0.0959, allowing only one earned run in 73.0 innings.
At the plate, Megan Pierro (Lutz, Fla.) and Meghan Sheehan (Forest Hill, Md.) both finished the day three-for-five with a run. Alexis Johns (Sarasota, Fla.) stole five bases between the two games and scored four runs.
Game 1 – USF 5, UIC 0
The Bulls started early, plating three runs in the first inning. Johns reached, stole second then advanced to third on a Sheehan sacrifice bunt. She started the scoring by crossing the plate on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Alanah Rivera (St. Petersburg, Fla.). Rivera came around to score later in the inning, being forced home on a Madison Epperson (Tampa, Fla.) walk. Vivian Ponn (Fort Myers, Fla.) capped the scoring in the inning by coming home on a wild pitch.
South Florida kept the pressure up in the second by extending their lead again. Johns, reaching on a fielder’s choice, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an error to push the USF advantage to 4-0.
Corrick dealt in the circle, keeping the Flames off the board and took a perfect game into the fourth. The Bulls ended the scoring in the bottom of the fourth, capitalizing on UIC mistakes. Jordyn Kadlub (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) walked to lead off the inning. Stealing second in the next at-bat, Kadlub forced a throw to second with no one covering the bag. With the throw in center field, Kadlub started for third and came around to score as the ball got past the center fielder, sealing the win for South Florida.
Game 2 – USF 6, FAMU 3
South Florida started the second where the first left off. With two on in the second inning, Dezarae Maldonado (Winter Haven, Fla.) doubled down the right-field line to drive home Pierro. Castro scored in the next at-bat, as Kadlub singled through the left side. Johns reached on a fielder’s choice which plated Maldonado and then stole second and third to reach scoring position, crossing home on a Sheehan single.
The Bulls extended the lead in the fourth, with Johns scoring again on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Rivera.
The Rattlers fought back in the fifth, scoring three runs in the frame. South Florida responded in the sixth and ultimately ended the scoring with Sheehan reaching home on a single from Devyne Davis (Land O’ Lakes, Fla.).
Notables
- USF stole seven bases against Florida A&M, the first time USF has stolen seven bases since the team swiped six against FGCU on April 18, 2021.
- Lexie Kopko (Stewartstown, Pa.) combined with Corrick for the shutout in game one, tossing two shutout frames.
- Corrick is just nine strikeouts away from 1,000. Only one other USF pitcher has reached the milestone, with Sara Nevins tossing 1,103 in her career.
- Erin Poepping (Lino Lakes, Minn.) took a no-hitter through 4.1 innings.
- Johns has reached base in 11 straight games, and leads the team with seven multi-hit games.
- South Florida is 12-0 this season when scoring first and has outscored opponents 14-0 in the first inning.
Up Next
The Bulls continue play in the weekend invitational tomorrow with another doubleheader, this time against UIC at 2 p.m. and Army at 4:30 p.m.
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 16 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.
– #GoBulls –
