The Bulls scored five runs in the fifth inning to power the victory
TULSA, Okla. May 13, 2021 – The University of South Florida used an explosive fifth inning to power past the Memphis Tigers in a six-inning, run-rule victory during the American Athletic Conference Tournament First Round.
Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) earned her 22nd victory of the season and tossed eleven strikeouts in the game. Bethaney Keen (Bradenton, Fla.) went three-for-three at the plate with a double, a home run and two RBIs.
Tulsa struck first in the top of the fourth, plating a run on a one-out single to left. The Bulls quickly responded in the bottom of the inning, as both Bailee Leistl (Valrico, Fla.) and Brooke Hartman (Port Orange, Fla.) scored to give the Bulls the lead.
USF expanded its lead in the sixth. Josie Foreman (West Palm Beach, Fla.) doubled home AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Pa.) as the game’s winning run. Two batters later, Lexie Kopko (Stewartstown, Pa.) scored on a single from Megan Pierro (Lutz, Fla.). Keen crossed on a wild pitch and Hartman singled home Pierro to push USF’s lead to 6-1. Hartman capped the scoring in the inning, being driven home off a single from Alexis Swearingen (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.).
Memphis pushed back in the sixth, loading the bases but only scoring a lone run on a single to left field. The Bulls answered again, with Keen hitting a two-run home run to left field. USF forced the run-rule victory later in the inning, with Pierro crossing home on a wild pitch to cement a 10-2 victory.
Quotable
Head coach Ken Eriksen on Corrick’s big moment…
“She got a big out in the fourth inning to get the last out of the inning. I think that’s what helped us and propelled us to be able to come back and answer back. Getting that last out in the fourth inning was a huge deal.”
Eriksen on the team’s ability to stay in a game…
“They don’t give up in a battle. When you have a pitcher like Georgina in the circle, it’s easy to stay in the fight. You might get knocked down in the third or fourth round of the fight, but Georgina’s going to go 15 rounds for you. That’s the type of person she is. She gains that respect from her teammates that they never feel like they’re out of it.
Notables
- Corrick has now tossed 10-plus strikeouts in 16 appearances this season.
- Swearingen’s fifth-inning single was her first career hit and RBI.
- Pierro stole three bases in a game for the second time this season. Previously, she swiped three bases against Memphis on March 26.
- With three hits today, Keen has nine multi-hit games this season and five multi-RBI games.
Up Next
USF battles rival UCF in the AAC Tournament Semifinals tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET. The Bulls wrapped up its 2021 regular season with a four-game series against the Knights. After taking the series opener on Friday, UCF won the remaining games to take the series win.
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 –
