USF Athletics

Bulls Prove to Be 'Strong Competitors' Against Team USA

February 04, 2020

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, FEB. 4, 2020 – Nearly 1,300 fans filled USF Softball Stadium to watch the Bulls embrace an exhibition experience of a lifetime against the Team USA on Tuesday night.

Facing the world's best, USF made a statement by limiting a potent lineup to five hits and keeping things close the whole way through a 3-0 loss to head coach Ken Eriksen's USA Softball Olympic squad.

"I learned that they matured a little bit faster maybe than I thought," said interim head coach Jessica Moore of her "gutsy" Bulls. "On these nights, you never know because they can come out starry-eyed, which I hope they did. But they came out and they still competed… I don't think they backed down."

Just months away from the Tokyo Games, cameras were in full focus as Tampa Mayor Jane Castor threw out the first pitch of the Team USA's "Stand Beside Her" tour kickoff that didn't disappoint.

All-American ace Georgina Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) pitched a pair of scoreless innings after Team USA took a 1-0 lead in the first. The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year candidate ended the top of the third with a strikeout.

Camryn Dolby (Round Hill, Va.) also shined in the circle, keeping the deficit at 2-0 with scoreless fifth and sixth frames.

"We came out aggressive. We came out as strong competitors," Corrick said. "I really hope that not just the people who were at this field here, but the people outside of it really realize that USF came to play. I really think we showed that today."

The home crowd roared when Bethaney Keen (Bradenton, Fla.) recorded USF's first hit, a single to center field in the first inning off three-time Olympian Cat Osterman.

"The first pitch, I was like, 'OK, this is how it's gonna be,'" Keen said with a smile, "and then I just said the next pitch, I had to compete and I kind of just saw it (and) threw my bat out there."

USF put a runner in scoring position in third, thanks to a steal by speedy AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Pa.), and another memorable moment on offense came one frame later. First-year Bull Aliyah "AJ" Carter (Brownsburg, Ind.) roped a two-out single through the left side against another elite arm.

"I definitely thought it was pretty cool getting a hit off Monica Abbott," Carter said. "It was a great feeling knowing you're facing the top pitchers of the world and just getting a hit off her was a real good feeling."

On a leave of absence from USF to coach Team USA, Eriksen was impressed with the Bulls' "no-fear" approach against an opponent preparing to capture Olympic gold.

"They're finding themselves out and I thought they might have found themselves tonight, earlier in the season than they thought," he said. "It was good to see that."

Up Next
USF gets its regular season started with a home game against Illinois State on Thursday. The National Girls and Women in Sports Day game is set for a 6:30 p.m. start.

Fans can watch every USF softball/baseball home game this regular season by purchasing the Double Play Pass for only $75.
 
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 15 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women's College World Series in 2012.