USF Athletics Weekend Round-Up 3/19-3/21

Women’s Basketball Beats Washington State in First Round of NCAA Tournament

Elena Tsineke scored a game-high 18 points to pace the Bulls in their 57-53 over Wazzu. Read the recap here.

USF will face No. 1 seed NC State Tuesday at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.

Women’s Volleyball splits games vs. Tulane

USF (6-6, 3-3) returned after a weekend off to take on the Green Wave in the Corral splitting the two games and remaining at .500 overall and third place in the AAC East Division behind C. and Cincinnati.

Game 1: USF 3-0

The Bulls posted their first 3-0 set victory on Thursday tying a season best with 10 aces and winning 25-21, 25-19, and 25-22. The Bulls were led by redshirt freshman Makayla Washington with 13 kills, freshman Marta Cvitkovic - who posted her fifth double-double of the season - with 10 kills and 10 digs, and freshman Agata Plaga with a career high three service aces. The underclassmen have really shined in coach Jolene Shepardson’s first season.

Game 2: Tulane 3-1

A pair of power outages in the Corral caused a few delays in gameplay for this Saturday morning match as the Bulls dropped the first two sets 25-17 and 25-19 before winning the third 25-23. The Green Wave were able to dispatch of the Bulls in the fourth 25-21. Once again the leaders in kills were all freshmen with Marta Cvitkovic posting 12 kills and four blocks and Makayla Washington and Agata Plaga posting 11 kills each.

USF will head to Oviedo to play the Central Florida Golden Knights (12-1, 6-0) for a two-match series next weekend.

Softball gets back on track, back above .500 with sweep of North Dakota

The Bulls (8-6) hosted a three game series vs. the Fighting Hawks and swept the competition to extend their winning streak five.

Game 1: USF 12-0, 5 innings

USF earned its first five inning run-rule victory in over a year with a 12-run, 14-hit performance in game one that featured an eight run fourth inning. Juniors Kyndall Williams, and Bethaney Keen and senior AnaMarie Bruni all had two hits on the day with at least one run each. Georgina Corrick pitched another gem striking out seven in five innings and earning her fifth victory,

Game 2: USF 13-4, 5 innings

The Bulls continued their offensive success in game two despite an early 2-0 deficit. USF plated seven runs in the second and five runs in the third and never looked back. Williams and Keen both had multi-hit games scoring a run and driving in a run each.

Game 3: USF 2-0

Georgina Corrick threw the 28th no-hitter in program history in a pitcher’s duel that saw all of the scoring in the first inning. After jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead, Corrick took over striking out 13 and only walking two.

USF will host UNF for a doubleheader on Tuesday before welcoming the Memphis Tigers (6-16) to open conference play this weekend for a four game series.

Baseball drops opener, takes next two vs. FAU

FAU was ranked as high as 20 in the top 25 last week before dropping out prior to this series as USF takes 2 of 3 after a slugfest loss to Stetson earlier in the week.

Game 1: FAU 5-1

FAU put up four runs in the third - all unearned - off a two-out error that spoiled a an otherwise quality start from starter Jack Jasiak. After a throwing error loaded the bases, a bases-clearing triple and RBI single led to the unearned runs. The freshman had seven strikeouts in seven innings giving up five hits and a walk. Freshman Drew Brutcher went 3-3 on a day where the Bulls only tallied five total hits.

Game 2: USF 4-0

The Bulls collected a much needed win as senior Dylan Burns and junior Baron Stuart combined for a two-hit shutout against the Owls. The pitchers combined for 8 strikeouts on the evening. Freshman Carmine Lane started off the day with a two-run homerun to give the Bulls the lead and the dub.

Game 3: USF 6-5, 11 innings

All you need to know.

Freshman Daniel Cantu launched a walk-off moon shot to secure the victory in 11 innings. It was the third walk-off of the season for the Bulls and second walk-off homer. Senior pitcher Collin Sullivan earned a no-decision giving up two runs and striking out ten in six innings. USF had its first lead of the afternoon on a four run eighth inning to go up 5-3, but the Owls rallied in the ninth scoring two off an RBI double and fielder’s choice. Who doesn’t love a little bonus baseball?

USF will play UNF on Tuesday before welcoming some middle school in Lubbock for a three-game series this weekend.

Men’s Soccer squanders halftime lead, drops rematch with No. 16 SMU 3-2.

USF (4-3) dropped a heartbreaker at SMU snapping their four-game winning streak. USF scored two goals in the first half just five minutes apart to go up 2-1, but couldn’t shut the door in the second half. Freshman Brian Schaefer scored his second goal of the year in the 37’ to even the score and sophomore Salvatore Mazzaferro scored his first shortly after. SMU’s Skage Simonsen completed the hat trick right out of the gate by scoring his final two goals in the 46’ and 47’.

USF will look to get back on track at home vs. Central Florida on Saturday.

No. 16 Women’s Soccer stays unbeaten, wins on a penalty kick vs C.

After 541 shutout minutes for USF (5-0-1) to start the season, Sydney Martinez finally gave up a goal in the 72’ against Central Florida. The Bulls took a 1-0 lead into halftime off senior Sabrina Wagner’s goal in the 37’ before giving up the equalizer in the second half. USF outshot the Knights 11-6 with a 7-3 shots-on-goal advantage. The game winner came on Sydny Nasello’s penalty kick in the 77’.

USF will look to stay unbeaten at SMU (1-1) on Thursday night.

No. 29 Men’s Tennis loses to No. 50 Miami (FL), 4-3

After a tough loss vs. No. 5 TCU earlier in the week, the Bulls dropped another close match to Miami. USF opened the day by dropping the doubles point and couldn’t quite rally back for the victory. The first two singles points went to Miami in straight sets before senior Jakub Wojcik got the Bulls on the board with a two set win on court two. Miami was able to secure the victory before USF could win the final two singles points on courts five and three.

USF will head on the road this weekend to play UTSA in San Antonio, Texas in Austin, and MTSU in Merfreesboro, TN.

Women’s Tennis loses to ETSU at home 5-2.

The Bulls had match points on both doubles courts and couldn’t capitalize as ETSU claimed the doubles point and didn’t look back. Freshman Grace Schumacher won her match in two sets to get USF within one point, but the Bulls dropped their next three matches in three sets each in singles competition before conceding.

USF (5-9) will play Central Arkansas at home on Monday.

Bulls secure three event winners in USF Bulls Invitational

Sophomore Jae’Nisa Heckstall secured a first place finish for the Bulls in the Women 100 Meter Hurdles with a time of 13.63 which is the fourth-fastest outdoor time in program history. Freshman Alexandra Weir ( 1500 meter run) and freshman Jasmine Knowles (400 meter dash) also placed first in the competition.

The Bulls also placed first in the Women’s 4x100 Meter Relay, the Women 4x400 Meter Relay, and the Men’s 4x400 Meter Relay. the Women 1500 Meter Run (freshman Alexandra Weir), and the Women 400 Meter Dash (freshman Jasmine Knowles.)

USF will next compete in the FSU Relays this weekend.