The Bulls open the season against Top-10 Florida; Fan Attendance at USF Softball Stadium is via pass list only
MATCHUP: USF (RV) vs. No. 6/7 Florida
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m.
WHERE: USF Softball Stadium
TWITTER UPDATES: @USFSoftball
TAMPA, FLA. Feb. 12, 2021 – The University of South Florida softball team will open its 2021 season this weekend with a three-game set against No. 6/7 Florida. Head coach Ken Eriksen’s squad begins the year with a doubleheader on Saturday (1 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.), followed by the weekend finale on Sunday (1 p.m.).
Due to virus mitigation measures and the size of the venue, USF will have limited fan attendance via pass list only at USF Softball Stadium.
All of the Bulls’ regular-season home games will be streamed live on the ESPN+ platform.
This weekend continues a long-standing history between USF and Florida. The teams have played 62 times since 1997, with Florida holding the series lead, 49-13. The Gators won the last meeting in the 2020 season opening weekend, 6-1. USF’s last win in the series came in 2012, when the Bulls won a 1-0 decision in Gainesville, Fla. to clinch a spot in the NCAA Super Regional.
USF returns all of its starters from its 2020 squad as well as welcoming nine newcomers (seven freshmen, two transfers) to the 2021 team.
Opponent
Florida returns 18 of its letterwinners from the 2020 season, including three seniors who returned for a fifth year. On offense, Florida is led by fifth-year third baseman Charla Echols (.417/.480/.762, 28 RBIs, 8 HRs) and fifth-year first baseman Kendyl Lindaman (.410/.525/.731, 22 RBIs, 7 HRs). The pair of Echols and Lindaman were named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List and were placed on the Preseason All-SEC team. In the circle, the Gators are led by a trio of pitchers, including senior Natalie Lugo (7-2, 1.64 ERA in 81.1 IP, 102 Ks), sophomore Rylee Trlicek (9-2, 1.99 ERA in 52.2 IP, 28 Ks) and junior Elizabeth Hightower (4-0, 2.55 ERA in 24.2 IP, 30 Ks).
The Gators were selected to finish third in the SEC in 2021 and are currently ranked No. 6 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll and No. 7 in the USA Today/NFCA poll. Florida is led by Tim Walton, who is in his 16th season with the Gators and holds a 794-171 record with the team. Overall, Walton is in his 19th year as a head coach with a 917-235 overall record.
USF 2021 Team Overview
The Bulls return eight starters from the 2020 season, including senior outfielder AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Pa.), who led the team with a .476 batting average, and junior pitcher Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.), who paced the Bulls in the circle with a 1.29 ERA in 97.1 innings pitched and 127 strikeouts. Corrick was named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List for the second season in a row. The Bulls also return redshirt junior Bethaney Keen (Bradenton, Fla.), who led the team with six extra base hits last season (three doubles, three home runs) and senior Brooke Hartman (Port Orange, Fla.), who recorded a team-high 12 RBIs.
The Bulls also bring in nine newcomers, including two transfers. Sophomore Emilee Hanlon (Dunkirk, N.Y.) arrives in Tampa after time at Volunteer State CC, while sophomore Alexis Johns (Sarasota, Fla.) joins USF after two years with FIU. Among the newcomers are three outfielders, three infielders, two pitchers and a catcher.
Eriksen begins his 24th year at the helm of the USF program in 2021, boasting a career record of 975-502-1 in his time with the Bulls. South Florida was selected to finish second in the American by the league’s coaches in the 2021 season, finishing behind only UCF in the voting. USF also is receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.
ESPN+
The American Athletic Conference and ESPN began a new 12-year television rights agreement starting in 2020-21. USF will stream numerous home athletic events to ESPN+ this spring. Subscriptions for the ESPN+ app are $5.99 monthly or $49.99 annually and can be packaged with Hulu and Disney+ streaming services. A step-by-step guide for subscribing to ESPN+ is located here.
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 –
