USF Athletics

Ms. 200: Donovan Could Reach Hit Milestone at Home This Weekend

April 05, 2018

MATCHUP: Houston (23-12) at USF (27-14)
SERIES SCHEDULE: Friday, 6:30 p.m. | Saturday, 5 p.m. | Sunday, 11 a.m.
LOCATION: USF Softball Stadium
FOLLOW: Twitter @USFSoftball | Live stats  
WATCH: Facebook Live Friday and Saturday | American Digital Network Sunday
TICKETS: USFBullsTix.com


By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, APRIL 5, 2018 – The Astin Donovan hit show is headed to a stadium near you, where "pretty cool" history could be made this weekend.

USF's multitalented senior producer at the plate is three hits shy of No. 200 in her collegiate career heading into the Bulls' three-game home series against conference foe Houston. Action at USF Softball Stadium begins Friday at 6:30 p.m., continues Saturday at 5 p.m. and the series finale is set for an 11 a.m. start on Sunday.

"Two-hundred hits in college is pretty impressive to me," head coach Ken Eriksen said. "You're averaging 50 hits a year in a 56-game schedule. That means you're pretty consistent over time. We've only had like 12 players here that did that."

Always focused on the next at-bat, Donovan wasn't aware of the potential feat until recently getting the news.

"I didn't know if it was a normal thing, or how many people had done it," she said. "I just go out and I play the game. I think it's rewarding me in the end and to be close to 200 hits, that's pretty cool."

Donovan's hit parade began with 44 knocks as a freshman in 2015, roughly four years after switching from righty to a full-time lefty at the plate. Using her speed to steal 12 bags, Donovan was strictly a slapper during her freshman season and evolved into the total package, generating 110 hits (18 for extra bases) and driving in 42 runs as a sophomore and junior.

"She gives us a different dimension at the plate," Eriksen said. "If we needed her to slap to get on, she'll do that. If we need her to drive the ball, she can do that. She has uncanny power for that type of hitter, so it's really tough to defend her."

Especially this season.

Heading into Friday, Donovan has a team-leading 43 hits through 41 games (all starts in the outfield). The Guilford, Conn., native ranks second on the squad with a .355 average and has already matched her season career high of 12 stolen bases.

"My focus per game is just to get on base and to be the best I can for my team," she said. "My focus isn't for my personal gain, I just want to win."

That goes for softball, any other sport, or even in the classroom, where Donovan dominates on a daily basis. The criminology major is a regular on the dean's list and getting B's is a rarity for the USF Athletics Honor Roll member.

"She is a very passionate person when it comes to being competitive," Eriksen said. "I think that's the way she was when she was born. I think she wanted to be the first one out of the hospital on the day that all those kids were born."

Striving to be the best at hitting involves handling the pressure of each pivotal moment. Donovan has done that quite well since ending her nine-year run in another competitive sport to focus on softball.

"I learned how to handle pressure at a young age from gymnastics," she said. "Pressure situations here, I know how to breathe and calm myself down. I focus on the moment, not necessarily how many baserunners are on, or if we're losing and all that."

Whether or not Donovan reaches 200 hits this weekend, her coach sure is proud of the "class act" that will continue to represent USF well, long after her final at-bat.

"Whomever hires her in her life job, whatever it's going to be, is going to get a person that's not allergic to hard work," Eriksen said. "At the end of the day, they're going to say, 'I want a couple more people like that."

Know the Opponent
Donovan and the Bulls are set to face a conference opponent that's won four of its past six games after defeating Texas, 3-1, on Tuesday.

Houston (23-12, 3-3 in AAC) leads the conference in team earned run average (1.64) and ranks third in team batting average (.290).

Heading into Friday, the Bulls have a 17-14 edge in their all-time series with Houston, which took two of three from USF last season.

Bulls Bits

• Tied for first in the conference, USF (27-14, 5-1 in AAC) has won 20 of its past 22 games and is receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25.
• USF leads the conference in home runs (35).
• The Bulls rank second in the conference in batting average (.298) and slugging percentage (.455).
• Cassidy Boyle is tied for second in the conference in total doubles (9).
• Freshman Georgina Corrick ranks third in the conference in strikeouts per game (7.80).
• Cheyenne Eggens ranks seventh nationally and leads the conference in walks allowed per game (0.69).

 
About USF Softball
Fans can purchase season tickets for only $65 at USFBullsTix.com or by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls.
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.