TUCSON, Ariz., FEB. 15, 2019 – USF opened the Hillenbrand Invitational with a close loss, 2-0, to No. 7/8 Alabama before going on to upset No. 9/9 Arizona for the first time in program history, 4-1.
Alabama 2, USF 0
It was a pitchers' dual for Alabama (6-0) and USF (2-5). Senior
Nicole Doyle (Aurora, Ohio) pitched 6.1 innings and fanned five, allowing just two hits through four innings.
The Bulls held Alabama at zero through four innings, but a home run gave the Crimson Tide a lead in the fifth, and they tacked on one more in the top of the sixth.
The Bulls' best chance was in the bottom of the fifth when sophomore
Bethaney Keen hit her second infield single of the game, and redshirt sophomore
Brooke Leistl (Valrico, Fla.) entered to pinch run. Leistl advanced to second on a groundout to the pitcher. Freshman
Dezarae Maldonado (Winter Haven, Fla.) singled to right field, advancing Leistl to third. She kept going trying to make it home but stumbled and was tagged before reaching.
USF 4, Arizona 1
USF came in ready for a battle, as the Bulls and the Wildcats faced off for the second time this season. Corrick faced 28 batters in her complete game win. She allowed just four hits and one run through all seven innings, as Arizona's Taylor McQuillin struck out 16.
The Bulls went on a four-run tear in the top of the sixth inning that was instigated by USF's leadoff runner, junior
AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Pa.). Bruni reached on a shortstop error, and advanced to second when junior
Lindsey Devitt (Jacksonville, Fla.) drew a walk with no outs. Keen also reached on a shortstop error, that gave her two bases, and sent home the Bulls first runner of the evening. Redshirt senior
Mia Fung (Tampa, Fla.) hit an RBI sacrifice fly to plate Devitt. Freshman
Jaycie Michael (Mt. Dora, Fla.), in to pinch run for Keen, advanced to third.
A strikeout by junior
Riley Gore (West Palm Beach, Fla.) gave the Bulls their second out, but they weren't done scoring. Freshman
Megan Pierro (Lutz, Fla.) RBI singled, sending home her fellow freshman Michael, for a 3-0 lead. Pierro advanced to second on a wild pitch, putting her in position to make it home when senior
Macy Cook (Uniontown, Ohio) hit a perfect RBI double that dropped in the far-left corner just inside the foul line.
Arizona answered in the bottom of the frame with a leadoff solo shot to get on the board, but Corrick struck out two and forced an infield pop-up to limit the damage and hold the Bulls' lead, 4-1.
USF held its lead through the seventh, defeating Arizona for the first time in program history through 13 meetings.
Quotable: Ken Eriksen on the doubleheader
Key Stat
28 – The Bulls struck out 28 times in a 1-1 split at the Hillenbrand Invitational, but were able to score four runs and allow just three across both top ten matchups
Notable
- Georgina Corrick pitched seven complete innings against the Wildcats and struck out six in her first win of the season
- Corrick is 1-1 with a 1.17 ERA in four appearances
- Nicole Doyle has started five of USF's six games and pitched 24.1 total innings
- Doyle has held batters to a .187 average
- Bethaney Keen leads the team at-bat with a .421 through seven games
- USF and Arizona have met 13 times in program history, with tonight's being USF's first in the series
- The Bulls defeated Arizona with the same score that the Wildcats posted against USF in Tampa last weekend
Up Next
The Bulls will take on UIC and RV/RV Cal State Fullerton in the second day of the Hillenbrand Invitational at 11 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. ET.
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.
– #GoBulls –
