By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, MAY 10, 2018 – USF is headed to the American Athletic Conference Championship semifinals after pulling out a dramatic 2-1 victory over UConn in a 12-inning thriller on Thursday night.

Lauren Evans (Land O' Lakes, Fla.) made the longest game in The American Softball Championship history well worth the wait for Bulls fans by driving home the winning run with a two-out, walk-off single.

USF (37-20) advanced to the conference semifinals for the fourth time in the past five seasons after getting a brilliant performance from freshman Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.). The conference co-pitcher of the year struck out three and surrendered just two hits in 8.2 shutout innings.

Senior Hannah Parker (8-5) got the win after striking out five batters in 3.1 quality innings of relief. Corrick and Parker helped USF improve to 4-0 this season against the eighth-seeded Huskies (20-35).

Thursday's conference clash started with five shutout innings before the Bulls' offense broke through in the sixth. Astin Donovan (Guilford, Conn.) legged out an infield single to lead off the inning and scored three batters later on Macy Cook's clutch two-out single to left field.

UConn answered back in the top of the seventh by scoring the tying run on a close play at the plate with two outs.

The scored remained tied at 1-1 until the bottom of the 12^th inning, when Cassidy Boyle (Buchanan, N.Y.) set the table with a one-out walk. Pinch runner Kalen "JoJo" McGill (Gainesville, Fla.) raced home two batters later after Evans rocketed a single past the second baseman.

Quotable
 
Key Stats
1 – USF gave up just one run and six hits in 12 innings.
2 – The Bulls scored both of their runs with two outs.
7 – UConn stranded seven runners in its close battle with the Bulls.

Notables

• USF advanced to The American Softball Championship semifinals for the fourth time in the past five years (2014-16, 2018).
• USF improved to 25-5 in its all-time series against UConn. The Bulls went 4-0 against UConn this season and outscored the Huskies, 27-3.
• Lindsey Devitt (Jacksonville, Fla.) led the Bulls with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate.
• Brooke Hartman (Port Orange, Fla.) also recorded a multi-hit game by going 2-for-5.

Up Next
USF will take on fifth-seeded Memphis 4:30 p.m. Friday in the second semifinal game at USF Softball Stadium.

The Bulls will be looking to book a trip tournament championship game for the second time in league history and first time since 2016.
 
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 13 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women's College World Series in 2012.