USF Athletics Weekend Round-Up

Softball sweeps Memphis, finishes third in AAC ahead of Conference Tournament

USF hit the road this weekend for its final regular season series of the year against last-place Memphis and swept the Tigers with two-run rule victories and a shutout. Ace Georgina Corrick delivered again going the distance in all three games and bringing her nation-leading wins total to 34 in the process.

On Friday, the Bulls put up crooked number in the final three frames to run-rule Memphis 13-1. Corrick collected 15 strikeouts in the game which accounted for all of Memphis’ defensive outs. Senior Madison Epperson wet 3-3 slugging her third homerun and driving in four runs for the offense.

On Saturday, USF closed the game out in five innings again winning 9-1. Corrick again went the distance recording 12 strikeouts on the day. The Bulls stole three bases in the game and sophomore Alanah Rivera paced the offense going 3-3 with two runs and two RBI.

On Sunday, a pitcher’s duel ensued as junior Dezarae Maldanado’s fourth homerun of the season was the only offense of the game until the sixth in a 3-0 win. Corrick pitched her 32nd complete game of the season while striking out 10 to give the Bulls their second straight conference series sweep and third overall.

USF (42-13, 12-5) faces host ECU in the opening round of the AAC Conference Tournament in Greenville on Thursday.

Baseball snaps streak, wins series vs. C.

USF dropped the first game of the weekend vs. C. 10-4 to extend their losing streak to five games. In those five games USF was outscored 56-16 with question marks in the pitching staff, but when the day flipped to Saturday that all changed. The Bulls beat C. 2-1 on Saturday and 3-1 on Sunday behind excellent pitching and timely hitting to win the series in Tampa.

On Saturday, Ethan Brown pitched a flawless three innings only giving up two hits and Hunter Mink only gave up one run in four innings of relief. With the Bulls up 2-1, Orion Kerkering shut the door for the six out save, striking out four and showing flashes of his postseason performance from last spring. Carmine Lane provided the offense with a solo homerun in the first and an RBI single the fifth.

On Sunday, Joseph Sanchez served as the opener pitching a flawless three innings striking out three and freshman Joey Volini followed suit going 2.2 innings and striking out three G. Knights of his own. Tanner Mink gave up the lone run - a solo homerun in the eighth, but Nolan Hudi closed out the victory with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work. Marcus Brodil paced the offense going 3-4 and Jarrett Eaton had a couple of clutch hits going 2-4 with an RBI.

USF (25-22, 6-12) will hit the road to play Stetson on Tuesday before heading to Greenville to play first-place ECU this weekend.

No. 45 Men’s Tennis drops NCAA First Round Match with no. 29 Miami 4-3

After being selected to their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance USF Men’s Tennis dropped their opening round match-up with Miami to conclude their 2022 season. USF started out hot winning the doubles point with the teams of Rithvik Bollipalli and Bruno Oliveira 6-3, and Sergio Gomez Montesa and Alvin Tudorica 6-4, winning both of their courts heading into singles play. Tudorica then made quick work in a singles win while Antonio Muniz dropped his match to start things off. Chase Ferguson then won his match in straight sets to win the Bulls final point. Miami stormed back to win the next matches and secure the victory.

USF concludes their season ranked no. 45 going 14-11 with eight wins against ranked opponents.