USF Athletics

Consistent USF Pitchers Ahead of the Curve This Preseason

January 24, 2018

PURCHASE SEASON TICKETS

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, JAN. 24, 2018 – USF softball is a little more than two weeks away from starting the season but head coach Ken Eriksen wouldn't be worried if opening day was tomorrow because of the way the Bulls are slinging it in the circle.

All six of USF's talented arms on the pitching staff have been consistently attacking the strike zone with late-breaking movement as the team works through its third week of preseason preparation. Eriksen credits his pitchers following the game plan since fall ball ended in early November.

"They were really working on their timing with their motion, their landing foot and the things that need to be on time with their release points," Eriksen said. "Right now, they have really simplified the approach. Coach Jessica Moore deserves all the credit in the world for that because they brought into what's going on."

USF's pitching staff spent the first week of the preseason working in the bullpen and focusing on defensive alignments. Eriksen was so impressed with the Bulls' progress that he sent all six Bulls to the circle for live action against hitters last Tuesday and Wednesday.

"I've never done it that early before," Eriksen said. "Because you have six, you're not burning anybody out. The nice part is they're getting live work. Our hitters are seeing live pitching a lot earlier than we've ever done before."

That sort of progress puts USF ahead of the curve for the season opener at home against Illinois State on Thursday, Feb. 8, when Eriksen will have a bevy of pitching options.

"All six of them can open. All six of them can be middle and all six of them could be at the end. That's a nice situation," Eriksen said. "What they're beginning to realize is situational pitching. You might have one batter this game. You might have to get two outs this game. Those matchups will occur continuously for us."

Before Eriksen pencils in his opening day lineup, let's take a look at the talent he has to choose from in the pitcher's circle.
 
Cheyenne Eggens
The right-hander is one of three Bulls returning to the circle and has plenty of confidence after a breakout sophomore season.

Eggens earned first team all-conference honors in 2017 while leading USF in earned run average (1.87) through 93.2 innings. The Vienna, Ohio native went 9-6 with four saves and 45 strikeouts after posting a 7-0 record as a freshman.

Eriksen's Take: "She's steady. She just continues to improve every single year. This year was her best fall and best spring training so far, no doubt."

 
Kalen "JoJo" McGill and Hannah Parker
Both seniors gained their first season of experience as Bulls in 2017 and combined for 21 victories.

McGill led the staff with 11 wins and finished second on the team with a 2.69 ERA in 99 innings. The right-hander from Gainesville, Fla., struck out 64 batters in 29 appearances after winning 33 games as a sophomore for College of Central Florida.

Parker also produced in her first run with the Bulls, posting a 2.76 ERA, 10 wins and a team-leading five saves. The left-hander from Altoona, Iowa also led the staff in innings (126.2) and strikeouts (94) after spending her first two collegiate seasons as Western Kentucky.

Eriksen's Take: "This is their second year out of the transfer situation. The second year, you're finding a lot of good stuff. It takes a little time sometimes, but the second year you usually see a big difference."

 
Nicole Doyle
The junior right-hander from Aurora, Ohio enters her debut season at USF after finishing second on the Southern Illinois staff last season with eight wins and 78 strikeouts in 80.2 innings. Doyle bounced back from an injury in a big way in 2016, becoming SIU's first freshman to throw a no-hitter since 1997 in the first start of her career.

Eriksen's Take: "She throws it around 62-63 with a lot of spin. She's been very consistent and she's found a groove right now."

 
Georgina Corrick and Miriam Schmoll
USF's freshman right-handers have impressed Eriksen right away after shining for their high school teams in Florida.

Corrick was a dominant pitching machine at Seminole High School in Sanford with 758 strikeouts and a 0.58 ERA in 476 innings. Corrick was a member of the Great Britain U-19 team that won a European Championship this past August.

Schmoll certainly made a name for herself in the Bay Area, going 51-10 with a career ERA of 0.56 for Bayshore High School in Bradenton. Schmoll struck out 705 batters in her prep career and registered nine no-hitters (six perfect games) the past two seasons.

Eriksen's Take: "The two freshmen are doing phenomenal. They're buying into the simplicity of it."
 
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 12 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women's College World Series in 2012.