USF Athletics

Bulls to Honor Senior Class During Crucial Conference Series

May 03, 2018

MATCHUP: Wichita State (29-18, 11-7) at USF (34-19, 12-6)
DATES: Friday, May 4 – Sunday, May 6
WATCH: BullsVision Friday & Sunday; Facebook Live Saturday
FOLLOW: Live stats | Twitter
TICKETS: USFBullsTix.com


 
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, MAY 3, 2018 – USF softball heads into the final weekend of the regular season with a conference title in sight and a senior class taking center stage.

First-place USF (34-19, 12-6) needs one victory to secure at least a share of The American's regular season title and two wins to capture the crown outright heading into a pivotal home series against second-place Wichita State.

Friday's series opener starts at 6:30 p.m., Saturday's game begins at 5 p.m. and Sunday's showdown is set for 1 p.m. at USF Softball Stadium. Prior to USF's regular season home finale on Sunday, the program will honor eight Bulls on Senior Day – Amber Atkinson, Cassidy Boyle, Astin Donovan, Lauren Evans, Morgan Gross, Kalen "JoJo" McGill, Hannah Parker and courageous Meredith Bissette.

"The players that have been here for four years – Evans, Donovan, Gross, Boyle – they've really bought into what the USF softball way is. They have been at the forefront of getting through the early part of every year's tough schedule that gets put in front of them by their head coach," head coach Ken Eriksen said.

"The other three players – Atkinson, McGill and Parker – have done a phenomenal job of fitting in with the personalities in the locker room and the dugout," Eriksen added. "All seven have contributed tremendously at some point and they'll be called upon going forward."

Learn more about each senior who will be honored this weekend below:

Amber Atkinson
The catcher and designated hitter is having a breakout senior season at the plate with a .370 average, a .605 slugging percentage, eight extra-base hits and four homers. The Citrus, Fla., native has appeared in 62 games for the Bulls.

Eriksen's Take: "Amber is somebody that dealt with some injuries and couldn't play last year. She's come back in her senior year and put on a show. She has bought into the philosophy and you can see her batting average and run production for us have been off the charts."
 

Meredith Bissette
The former designated hitter has been a huge inspiration to the Bulls since her sophomore year in 2016, when she recorded her first-career hit and drove in two runs against East Carolina. That same season, Bissette was diagnosed with Chordoma, a rare form of bone cancer that occurs in the skull base and spine. Incredibly, Bissette overcame massive obstacles while re-learning how to walk. This season, she's stayed dedicated to the team and runs the scoreboard at each home game.

Eriksen's Take: "She wasn't able to be on the field the last couple of years, but what a tremendous inspiration she was not just in 2016, but watching what she did to come back through her mountain she had to climb just to be able to walk again let alone function in everyday life. She's been a tremendous inspiration while looking the bad stuff in the face and saying, 'I'm going to beat you.' She's been incredible for our program and everybody involved with her personally at different points."

 
Cassidy Boyle
The shortstop from Buchanan, N.Y., has been highly dependable for the Bulls, appearing in 170 games. During that time, Boyle has totaled 114 hits and scored 45 runs while recording 212 putouts and 287 assists in the field. Boyle also has excelled in the classroom as a three-time American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team honoree.

Eriksen's Take: "Cassidy battled through some injuries and she's having a very successful senior year. She runs the defense out there for us right now and she's a great teacher to the young players on our team. She's kind of the glue in the middle of the field that keeps our young third baseman and our young second baseman in line."


Astin Donovan
The standout outfielder from Guilford, Conn., is a two-time all-conference selection who is one of only 14 Bulls to generate 200 career hits. Donovan heads into the weekend needing nine more hits to tie for 10^th on USF's all-time list with Courtney Lewellen (221 hits, 2000-03). Donovan has been super productive this season with a .365 batting average, 25 RBIs, 10 extra-base hits and a team-leading 13 steals.

Eriksen's Take: "Astin has been a model of consistency since she's been here. You don't know that she is as productive as her numbers show because she has no ego. Every day, she comes out, works hard and tries to get better. At times, she's very hard on herself, but most pretty good athletes are. Her expectations are not to hit .340 to .400, her expectations are to win and I think that's what she has lent herself to our team."
 
 
Lauren Evans
The infielder from Land O' Lakes, Fla., has been a mainstay in the lineup as a four-year starter with 218 games of experience. The two-time all-conference pick has been all over the base paths, scoring 93 runs, totaling 171 hits and driving in 77 runs. Evans has produced 40 extra-base hits, including 27 doubles and seven homers. Evans also has played numerous positions in the infield and has posted an eye-catching 1,039 putouts for the Bulls.
 
Eriksen's Take: "Lauren has a tremendous amount of game experience. I've asked her to play three or four different positions for us and she never blinked an eye. I put her in the leadoff role this year, which is different, and it seems to have worked. You've got some good senior leadership in Boyle and Evans."
 

Morgan Gross
The versatile talent has been a huge help for the Bulls, especially in the 2017 season that saw the Reno, Nev., assume primary catching duties in the sixth game of the season. Gross has appeared in 87 games for USF and has posted 353 putouts during her career. Gross also has represented the program well as a two-time American Athletic Conference All-Academic team selection and a two-time NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete.

Eriksen's Take: "She's the voice of reason for our team. She's like the team mom and she's got a great head on her shoulders. I think she's going to be a great coach and one of those people who communicates very, very well with a lot of people going forward. Whatever the situation is, Morgan is cool and she was our only catcher last year because of all the injuries we had. She caught like 54 straight games, sometimes five or six games in a weekend. She showed a lot in 2017."
 

Kalen "JoJo" McGill
The pitcher from Gainesville, Fla., has been a regular in the circle for the Bulls, appearing in 51 games. McGill has started 29 games and led the team with 11 wins during her junior season in 2017. In two seasons with USF, the right-hander has posted 15 wins and three saves.

Eriksen's Take: "Kalen has had her ups and downs, but her perseverance right now is pretty impressive. She's turning into a pretty decent leader in respect to, 'OK, things might now go my way, but we are in this together.' She is showing that she's starting to get what life is about."
 

Hannah Parker
The pitcher from Altoona, Iowa has started 28 times and has appeared in 74 games with the Bulls. In her debut season with USF, the left-hander led the team in innings pitched (126.2) and strikeouts (94) in 2017. Parker has recorded 17 wins with the Bulls and set a career high with 11 strikeouts this season against Bryant.

Eriksen's Take: "Hannah Parker has been called upon in every type of situation that can be imaginable and she's been in a relief role that's either do or die. To be able to handle those type of situations now compared to when she was a freshman at Western Kentucky is impressive. She's growing up as we go."
 
Notable

• KNOW THE OPPONENT: Wichita State (29-18, 11-7) enters the weekend second in The American standings and one game behind the Bulls. The Shockers have won six of their past seven games after taking two of three from East Carolina last weekend.
• PARKING: With USF commencement ceremonies taking place this weekend, fans attending softball games are encouraged to park on Sycamore Drive lot off North 50^th Street.
• SATURDAY PROMOTIONS: The first 250 through the gates on Saturday will receive free Under Armour wristbands. Saturday's game will feature a Cinco de Mayo promotion with beverage specials available.

 
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.