USF Athletics

USF softball coach Ken Eriksen likes his life these days. For a change, it's stable.

To recap:

2020 — Eriksen took a leave of absence from the Bulls to focus on intense work with Team USA as it headed toward the Tokyo Olympics. Assistant Jess Moore became the interim coach. Eriksen planned limited interaction with the Bulls. Then along came COVID-19. USF's season was halted, then cancelled. The Olympics were postponed.

2021 — Eriksen returned as USF's head coach and pulled double-duty, but COVID was lingering and no one knew what to expect. Playing a limited schedule, the Bulls went 31-19 and reached the Gainesville Regional. Eriksen then shifted into full-time Olympics mode. His U.S. team earned the silver medal after falling 2-1 to Japan in the final game.

2022 — Back to normal.

"The last couple of years has been really, really confusing … and I'm the first to admit it,'' said Eriksen, whose team opens Thursday against Illinois State, while anticipating the arrival of two nationally ranked opponents on the weekend, No. 13 Michigan and No. 5 Florida. "Since March 12, 2020, it was that constant question. What does today bring? It was stressful for coaches, stressful for players.

"Even last year, nothing was a given, right down to the day of our gold-medal game. It was tedious to say the least. At USF, Jess (Moore) left so we were down to two coaches — myself and Coach (Tommy) Santiago. Because of the COVID/budget situation, we couldn't hire any more (graduate assistants). So we plowed through it.''

Eriksen said he's aware that COVID remains a concern and the guardrails can't be lowered just yet. But if nothing else, USF softball has a sense of normalcy that it hasn't experienced since 2019.

"We know what the expectations are and there's a tremendous amount of clarity,'' Eriksen said. "Not that we weren't a good team last year, but when the captain of the snip is off on a ferry boat somewhere, you're hoping the ship is going in the right direction. And now we're going in that direction.''

In keeping with the nautical theme, Eriksen said it's not sink-or-swim with All-American pitcher Georgina Corrick. She's obviously a dominant factor and could be leaving USF with most of the program's pitching records.

But Eriksen said there's enough pitching depth behind Corrick to consistute a winning staff, while the offense possesses enough power and speed to pose a threat.

Corrick, though? Yes, her presence alone gives USF a chance to do special things.

Corrick, the author of six career no-hitters (including one that gave Eriksen his 1,000th career victory), is a three-time All-AAC first-team selection and a two-time All-American. Last season, she was 24-9 with an 0.98 ERA, 333 strikeouts (in 228.1 innings) and 15 shutouts.

"Georgina is overpowering, but she learned how to pitch, then she learned how to put doubt in the batter's mind with an off-speed pitch,'' Eriksen said. "She learned how to paint a picture. It's a style that will last a long time because she's smart and her game is always evolving.''

Eriksen said he's motivated to preserve Corrick's arm by developing a deep staff. That's better for Corrick, who needs to be fresh for the postseason, and the long-term health of USF's program.

Who's No. 2? Eriksen said he has options, including a pair of transfers — Erin Poepping (ECU) and Antoinette Hill (Purdue), plus returner Camryn Dolby. There are also intriguing left-handers Lexie Kopko and Payton Dixon.

"There might be some (non-Corrick) games where we use four or five pitchers,'' Eriksen said.

The Bulls could be especially strong up the middle with shortstop Alanah Rivera, second baseman Megan Pierro, catcher Josie Foreman and center fielder Jordan Kadlub, described by Eriksen as "one of the best athletes we've ever had.'' Kadlub, right fielder Alexis Johns and left fielder Meghan Sheehan figure to be a strong outfield combination.

"Any time you're that strong up the middle, with someone like Georgina on the mound, it bodes well for us,'' Eriksen said.

So what constitutes a great season for USF?

Eriksen said the goal is simple — winning. And that won't be immediately defined by winning games.

"We want to win everything and those (game victories) are the byproducts of the win,'' Eriksen said. "We're not worrying about the scoreboard. We want to win every ground ball, every pitch, everything we do in the classroom.

"If we play well and win the little things, that doesn't necessarily mean winning the game. The way the game is played, you could hit smoke jobs right at everybody. The other team could get breaks from an umpire's call or a bad bounce. The goal is to win everything and hope the scoreboard doesn't lie. This game rewards merit, maybe not immediately, but ultimately. So if we keep doing the right things, we'll be fine.''