Saturday, March 20

USF 13, North Dakota 4 (5)	Box Score
USF 2, North Dakota 0	Box Score
Houston 3, Baylor 1	Box Score
Tulsa 1, South Dakota 0	Box Score
Tulsa 1, North Dakota State 0	Box Score
Wichita State 3, UTSA 1	Box Score
No. 8/6 Oklahoma State 5, Wichita State 2	Box Score
No. 24 South Carolina 9, No. 20/21 UCF 1 (5)	Box Score
No. 24 South Carolina 4, No. 20/21 UCF 2	Box Score
Louisiana Tech 7, Memphis 6	Box Score
Louisiana Tech 10, Memphis 6	Box Score
No. RV James Madison 9, East Carolina 1 (6)	Box Score
No. RV James Madison 6, East Carolina 3	Box Score

USF 13, North Dakota 4 (5)/USF 2, North Dakota

The University of South Florida softball team earned a three-game series sweep against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks as Georgina Corrick tossed her second solo no-hitter in game two of today's doubleheader. The Bulls used a stellar offensive effort in game one to power past North Dakota, 13-4, and Corrick propelled South Florida in game two, a 2-0 victory.
 
Corrick (Sanford, Fla.) tossed USF's 26th no-hitter in game two. Kyndall Williams (Trenton, Fla.) led USF hitters, scoring two runs and going 4-for-6 with a double and an RBI on the day. Bethaney Keen (Bradenton, Fla.) also went 4-for-6, scoring one run and driving home two.
 
The Bulls improved to 8-6 on the season with only one doubleheader remaining before their conference slate begins next weekend.
 
Game One – USF 13, UND 4 (5 inn.)
North Dakota struck first, taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning off a two-run shot from Jocelyn Kirk. The Bulls wasted no time in responding, plating seven runs in the bottom half of the frame. Williams kicked things off by singling home Corrick. Two batters later, Nicole Bechtel (Harrisburg, Pa.) drove home Keen to tie the game.
 
Williams scored soon after on a passed ball and two batters later, AnaMarie Bruni (Schwenksville, Pa.) reached on an error that allowed Emilee Hanlon (Dunkirk, N.Y.) to score. A sacrifice fly from Brooke Hartman (Port Orange, Fla.) drove home Brooke Leistl (Valrico, Fla.) and Corrick singled to drive home two more to put USF up 7-2.
 
USF added another five runs in the third. Alexis Johns (Sarasota, Fla.) drove home two then forced an error while stealing second which allowed Leistl to score. Bruni bunted in the next at-bat and an error on the play allowed Johns to cross home to give USF an 11-2 lead. Bruni scored later in the inning to give the Bulls a 10-run lead after three innings.
 
Megan Pierro (Lutz, Fla.) capped off USF's scoring in the fourth, sending a ball over the fence to put the Bulls up 13-2. North Dakota attempted a comeback in the fifth, stringing together hits accompanied by a USF error to plate two runs, but Corrick came in and shut the door with the bases loaded to give the Bulls the victory in game one.
 
Game Two – USF 2, UND 0
While game one was an offense-driven affair, game two was a pitchers' duel. USF plated two runs in the first, with Johns and Hartman crossing the plate, but then pitching prevailed.
 
Corrick was solid in the circle for USF, allowing no baserunners through three innings and facing the minimum through five. The Bulls challenged opposing pitching throughout, but ultimately the Fighting Hawks were able to strand six USF baserunners throughout the game.
 
Corrick wrapped up USF's 26th no-hitter in program history by sitting North Dakota down in order in the seventh. The junior threw 13 strikeouts while allowing no hits and only two walks.
 
Notables
Johns and Bruni both stole two bases split between the two games. Bruni is now 12-for-13 on stolen bases this season, while Alexis Johns is 5-for-5.
Johns led USF with three runs scored on the day.
USF finished 22-for-49 at the plate in the doubleheader.
The Bulls tallied 15 hits in game one, the most since Feb. 19, 2017 when they recorded 15 hits against Fordham.
Corrick now has sole possession of fifth on USF's all-time victories list with 58 in her career, passing Bree Spence (2005-09).
Bruni passed Stephanie Roberts (2000-03) for possession of No. 5 on the program's career stolen bases list. She now has 73 in her career. 
Quotable
Head coach Ken Eriksen on the team's offensive surge…
"It finally looked like our hitters were comfortable. If you look at the number of games we have played compared to North Dakota, it's amazing. We're only at 14 games and North Dakota has played 25, which is reversed to how it normally is this time of year. We had lost a lot of games early in the season due to the pandemic, but also due to the fact that we're not playing multi-team tournaments like we're used to, which help us get in the groove.  Right about now, games nine, 10 through 15 is when we've started to find that groove, and that's what you're finally starting to see. Where the hitters are getting in-game reps that are closer together and not as spread out like six, seven, eight days later. If you're realistic about it, we've played pretty good competition and pitching staffs over the last month and a half. We just have to maintain our positivity going forward."
 
Georgina Corrick on her no-hitter…
"I definitely just come out here to win. I want to give my team the best opportunity. Keeping zeroes on the board is definitely the best thing I can do, especially as a pitcher. I'm not crazy about stats, I'm not crazy about records or anything like that. It's always fortunate to have the records reflect whether I'm having good days or not and I feel like I've been having a lot of good days recently. It's super important for me and super important for the program. I think USF is a phenomenal program and it's a phenomenal school. I think sometimes we get a little overshadowed because there are other big names out there. I want to play against big names. I want to perform well against big names. I want to draw attention to the fact that USF is here to compete and that we're a school to be reckoned with. Having an achievement like this, which is something that pitchers don't get to do every day, definitely helps put the name out there. Maybe not mine, but USF's for sure, and I take a lot of pride in doing that."

Houston 3, No. RV Baylor 1

Behind the fifth complete-game of the season from junior Rachel Hertenberger, the University of Houston Softball team downed RV/RV Baylor by a score of 3-1 on Saturday afternoon.
 
The win improves Hertenberger's record to 4-3 on the year, as the Cougars (9-12) collect their second victory over a Big 12 opponent in as many games. Houston has now won its last three contests against Baylor in Waco.
 
Hertenberger finished the afternoon tossing all seven innings, while surrenduring just one run and allowing two walks. She needed only 93 pitches to seal the win. The Alvin, Texas, native has now surrendured a combined two runs in her past two starts against the Lady Bears (16-5).
 
At the plate, redshirt senior Sarah Queen drove in both first-inning runs with her double to center. Junior Bethany Busch added an insurance run in the seventh with her sacrafice fly that to pushed the lead back to a pair.
KEY INNINGS
1st | With redshirt senior Lindsey Stewart-Vaughn and Busch on base, Queen stepped up to the plate and launched a double off the wall in center to quickly put Houston ahead 2-0.
 
4th | Baylor threatened to tie the score, placing a runner at third with two outs, but Hertenberger retired the final two batters she faced to keep Houston ahead 2-1.
 
7th | Busch added to the Cougars' lead, as her sacrifice fly to the outfield scored freshman Jordan McClain to seal the 3-1 win.

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Sarah Queen | 1-3, 2B, 2 RBIs
Lindsey Stewart-Vaughn | 1-2, R
Bethany Busch | RBI, R
Paige Hulsey | 2-3
Charese Wyatt | 1-3
 
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Rachel Hertenberger (W, 4-3) | 7.0 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Tulsa 1, South Dakota 0/Tulsa 1, North Dakota State 0

The Golden Hurricane use dominant pitching to sweep day two of the Jayhawk Invitational, defeating the South Dakota Coyotes and the North Dakota State Bison 1-0 each at the Arrocha Ballpark Saturday.
 
Freshman Kylee Nash picked up her first win at Tulsa, drawing her first start as a Hurricane against the Coyotes. Nash combined with Chenise Delce for the shutout in the early game.
 
In the night cap, Samantha Pochop continued her dominant weekend going 7 innings allowing just 4 hits against the Bison to secure her second win in the Invitational.
 
Tulsa's record moved to 7-5 on the season, while South Dakota fell to 4-18 and North Dakota State dropped to 5-14.
 
GAME 1
Nash (1-0) entered the game having only pitched 3.1 innings in relief for Tulsa with three strikeouts and two earned runs. Throughout her 5 innings against the Coyotes, she struck out 4 batters and gave up only 3 hits.
 
Offensively the Hurricane only needed one hit, which was a solo home run by Makayla Jackson in the top of the 2nd inning. Jackson finished the game leading the Hurricane in hits with 2, recording a single in the 4th.
 
Imani Edwards continued her stellar freshman campaign going 2-3 from the plate with singles in the 1st and 3rd innings.  
 
Delce came in for Nash in relief to start the 6th inning, finishing the game with her first save of the season. She struck out 4, allowing only 3 hits, in her two innings of work.
 
Tulsa jumped out of the game hot as Edwards and Haley Morgan reached base to start the 1st inning. Alexis Perry walked to load the bases for the Hurricane; however, a double play ended TU's hopes to score.

 
                        1          2          3          4          5          6          7
Tulsa                0          1          0          0          0          0          0
SD                   0          0          0          0          0          0          0
WP: Nash, K. (1-0)        LP: Woodward, G. (0-1)
S: Delce, C. (1)
           
 
GAME 2
The Hurricane and Bison entered the top of the 7th inning locked in a pitcher's duel, as Tulsa only had 2 hits entering the final frame.
 
Aubree Seaney started off the top half of the inning with a single up the middle. Kennedy Cramer pinch ran for Seaney and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sarah Briers. Abby Jones sent a shot up the middle scoring Cramer for second, giving TU its' lone run of the game.
 
Jones, in her first start since opening day against Texas A&M, led the Hurricane from the plate going 2-3 on the day.
 
Samantha Pochop (4-1) put in double-digit strikeouts for the second day in a row, sitting down 11 North Dakota State batters.
 
Pochop put in her first complete game, shutout for the Hurricane going 7 innings not allowing a run and only 4 hits against the Bison.
 
The Hurricane struggled to hit the ball against the Bison's Kara O'Byrne, as a Morgan, Seaney and Jones's singles are all TU could muster.
 
                        1          2          3          4          5          6          7
Tulsa                0          0          0          0          0          0          1
NDSU              0          0          0          0          0          0          0
WP: Pochop, S. (4-1)      LP: O'Byrne, K. (0-5)

Wichita State 3, UTSA 1/No. 8/6 Oklahoma State 5, Wichita State 2

Wichita State's win streak came to an end after splitting two games on the final day of the Mizuno Classic. The Shockers defeated UTSA, 3-1, in the first game, but dropped a 5-2 decision to No. 8/6 Oklahoma State.

Wichita State (17-4) went 4-1 over the weekend in Stillwater and is now 2-2 on the season vs. ranked opponents.

Bailey Lange (8-1) recorded her ninth complete game after allowing just one run on seven hits and a season-high 10 strikeouts vs. UTSA.

Bailee Nickerson went 2-for-3 and Bailey Urban drove in two of the three runs.

Wichita State took an early 2-0 lead vs. UTSA after a bases loaded two-run single from Urban in the bottom of the second. The Roadrunners loaded the bases in the fourth, but were only able to plate one run.

Ryleigh Buck's RBI fielder's choice in the fifth inning would be the final run of the game for either team.

Caitlin Bingham suffered her first loss (3-1) of the season, going 4.2 innings in the finale vs. Oklahoma State. She gave up five runs on seven hits – all five runs coming on just two home runs.

Oklahoma State put two on the board in the third on a two-run home run and then a three-run shot in the fifth.

Wichita State's two runs came in the top of the sixth on a two-out, two-run double from Buck.

No. 24 South Carolina 9, No. 20/21 UCF 1 (5)/No. 24 South Carolina 4, No. 20/21 UCF 2

The No. 20 ranked UCF softball team couldn't catch a break Saturday afternoon in Columbia as the Knights dropped both games of a doubleheader to No. 24 South Carolina. The Knights lost 9-1 and 4-2 to move to 18-6 on the season.
 
When asked what she told the team following game two, Knights' head coach Cindy Ball-Malone said: "We have to be ourselves. We have to focus on what we are good at and stay consistent. Do what we do and do it well and the greatness will come.
 
"If you look at some of the bigger games that we have won this year, we just played solid and played well, so we need to get back to that."
 
UCF will have a chance to bounce back on Sunday as the two sides will play the final game of their three-game series at 1:00 p.m.
 
GAME ONE – UCF 1 // South Carolina 9

It was a battle early on Saturday afternoon as UCF and South Carolina were tied at one apiece headed into the fourth inning. Unfortunately, the Gamecocks would go on to score nine unanswered runs, including five in the fifth, to beat the Knights 9-1.
 
The Knights jumped out to an early lead in the first inning and starting pitcher Gianna Mancha was solid through the first three innings, allowing just one run on an RBI single to keep it a 1-1 game.
 
The majority of the Gamecocks' damage came in the fifth inning. Up 4-1, South Carolina posted three hits and took advantage of some wild UCF pitching that included two walks and two hit batters to post five runs in the inning, walking it off, 9-1, by virtue of run rule.
 
The Knights utilized three pitchers in the contest in Mancha, Grace Jewell and Angelina DeVoe. Macha (8-3) was credited with the loss after exiting down 4-1. She tossed four innings before Jewell took over. Jewell threw 0.1 innings, allowing five earned before giving way to DeVoe, who faced two batters, allowing a hit and walking one before the Gamecocks walked it off.
 
On the offensive side of the ball, UCF center fielder Kyra Klarkowski was 2-for-2 for her third multi-hit game of the season. Jada Cody was responsible for the Knights lone RBI of the game as she knocked in Georgia Blair in the top of the first to put UCF up 1-0. Unfortunately, the Knights would stall from there as South Carolina posted nine unanswered to go on to win 9-1.
 
"We didn't get some of the calls behind the plate that we wanted as a pitching staff, but I think when that happens, we need to do a better job of buckling down and throwing our pitch," said Ball-Malone. "When you face teams like this, you can't miss on a lot of pitches, especially with runners in scoring position."
 
Key Moments
The Knights took an early 1-0 lead after Jada Cody doubled to straight away center field to drive in Georgia Blair in the first inning.
The Gamecocks answered back in the bottom half of the inning with an infield single to drive in a run and tie the game at one apiece.
South Carolina pinch hitter Chooch Carrol singled up the middle to drive in a run and put her team up 2-1 in the fourth inning.
Gamecocks' backstop Jordan Fabian singled to drive in two more later in the inning, making it a 4-1 South Carolina lead.
Three hits, two walks and two hit-by-pitches would allow South Carolina to post a five-run fifth inning, walking it off, 9-1.
GAME TWO – UCF 2 // South Carolina 4

Knights' head coach Cindy Ball-Malone called on UCF all-time wins leader Alea White to start in game two. White was solid in the circle for UCF, allowing just four earned runs in six innings pitched. Unfortunately, she was outmatched by South Carolina starter Leah Powell, who tossed a gem for the Gamecocks as she held the Knights to just two runs (one earned) and tossed a complete game to lead South Carolina to the 4-2 victory.
 
The Gamecocks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead courtesy of a two-run home run in the second and never relinquished their lead from there, going on to win 4-2. With the loss, White moved to 9-1 on the season.
 
Jazmine Esparza was a bright spot for the Knights' lineup in game two. The senior from Sylmar, California was 2-for-3, including a solo home run and a double in the seventh that seemed to be a spark to the Knights' lineup at the time. Esparza now leads the Knights on the season with a .441 batting average. She also has three home runs and eight doubles in 68 at-bats.
 
"I like how we came out in game two after how the first game went," said Ball-Malone. "I think [Alea] threw one of her better games of the year, minus one pitch and one miss-play on defense... We just have to play like a more seasoned and experienced team instead of trying to impress in certain situations, and I think that is just going to come over time with this group."

Key Moments
A two-run home run from South Carolina designated player Cayla Drotar would put the Gamecocks up 2-0 in the second inning.
Jazmine Esparza hit a solo shot in the third to cut the UCF deficit to 2-1.
South Carolina would take advantage of a UCF error in the third to go up 3-1.
Later in the inning, an RBI single would extend the South Carolina lead to 4-1.
The Knights took advantage of a South Carolina error to make it a 4-2 game in the fifth inning.

Louisiana Tech 7, Memphis 6/Louisiana Tech 10, Memphis 6

Memphis softball drops both games of a doubleheader at home to Louisiana Tech 7-6 and 10-6. This is the first three games series the Tigers have played against the Lady Techsters. The Tigers were 1-1 going into the series with Louisiana Tech.
 
GAME 1
Hallie Siems got the start in the circle for the Tigers. She pitched two innings and a third, giving up one run on three hits and had two strikeouts. Chyanne Ellett replaced her in the circle. Ellett went for an inning and a third. She had two strikeouts and seven walks. Mariah Nichols came in relief for the Tigers in the top of the fifth.
 
Freshman Bre Hernandez got the start for Louisiana Tech. She threw a complete game for the Lady Techsters. She gave up six runs on 11 hits and had three strikeouts.
 
After a scoreless first inning for both teams, Louisiana Tech would strike first. With two out and runners at first and second, KB Briley hit a line drive to right center to score Zoe Hick from second, making it 1-0. The Lady Techsters added three runs in the top of the third inning including a sac fly from Briley for her second RBI of the day, making the score 4-0.
 
The Tigers answered back in the bottom of the fourth inning with two runs. Alyssa Dean hit a solo home run to left to give the Tigers their first run of the game. Two batters later, Gracie Morton hit a single into right to score Delaney Smith from second and make it a 4-2 ball game.
 
The Lady Techsters got two runs in the top of the fifth to make it 6-2. In the bottom of the inning, Brady Rowland hit a solo home run to right center to cut the lead to 6-3. Louisiana Tech would score again in the top of the sixth off a triple to left by Tristin Court.
 
The Tigers would answer again scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Two runs came from an RBI single to right by Kendall Lee to make the score 7-6.
 
GAME 2
After finishing up game one, Mariah Nichols got the start in game two but only threw one inning. Kailey Hilderbrand came in relief for the Tigers in the second inning and threw five and a thirds innings. Freshman Olivia Johnson made her 10th appearance of the year in the circle when she came in the seventh.
 
Audrey Picketts started game two for Louisiana Tech. She threw five innings giving up three runs on five hits. Emma Huchinson finished out the game giving up three runs on four hits.
 
The Lady Techsters started off hot in the top of the first inning. They scored five runs on five hits including an RBI from sophomore Brooke Diaz to score Tristin Court. They add three more runs in the second innings. Tanjala Smith hit a double to right center with the bases loaded to score Zoe Hick and Madie Green to extend their lead to 7-0. Louisiana Tech led 8-0 after two.
 
The Tigers got one run back in the bottom of the third, as third baseman Sara Ann Davidson hit a ground ball to short to score Delaney Smith from third to make it 8-1. Lanya Bates got another run back for the Tigers in the bottom of the fifth with a RBI single up the middle to score Davidson. Baylee Smith came up next and hit an RBI to center scoring Bates cutting the lead to 8-3. The Tigers then added three more in the bottom of the sixth. Gracie Morton hit a triple off the center field fence to score Dean and Davidson. The Lady Techsters hit two solo home runs in the seventh to extend their lead to 10-6.
  
The Tigers fall to 5-16 and the Lady Techsters improve to 7-11.

No. RV James Madison 9, East Carolina 1 (6)/No. RV James Madison 6, East Carolina 3

James Madison took both games of a non-conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Park, downing East Carolina by scores of 9-1 (six innings) and 6-3.
 
The Dukes remain unbeaten at 8-0 while the Pirates drop to 9-12.
 
Game One: (RV) JMU 9, East Carolina 1 (6)
A three-run home run off the bat of Logan Newton in the bottom of the first inning proved to be more that enough for the Dukes who cruised to the run-rule victory in the series opener. Newtown finished the contest with two hits, two runs scored and three RBI while Madison Naujokas was also 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two home runs and a pair of RBI. Chandley Garner paced the Pirate offense with her team-leading fifth home run of the season.
 
Logyn Estes (0-2) was tagged with the loss, throwing just 2.1 innings while allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits with a walk and no strikeouts. Alissa Humphrey (5-0) remained unbeaten with a complete-game performance as she limited ECU to one run on four hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts.
 
Following Newton's heroics in the bottom of the first, the Dukes tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the third on a pair of hits and a Pirate error before Garner got East Carolina on the board with a leadoff home run in the top of the fourth to make it a 6-1 game. Solo home runs by Naujokas and Sara Jubas in the fifth and sixth innings sandwiched a run-scoring Pirate error in the fifth to complete the scoring.
 
Game Two: (RV) JMU 6, East Carolina 3
A grand slam by Hannah Shifflett in the bottom of the fourth broke a 1-1 tie and propelled JMU to the sweep. Shifflett and Hallie Hall notched two hits each while Garner clubbed another two home runs to bring her team-leading total to seven.
 
Alexis Bermudez (1-0) emerged victorious in her first start of the season, hurling 5.1 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Humprey picked up her first save by throwing the final 1.2 innings. Kama Woodall (4-6) nearly went the distance, surrendering six runs (five earned) on six hits with eight walks and three strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work.
 
After East Carolina stranded runners on the corners in the top of the first, the Dukes jumped on top with a Naujokas RBI single to grab a 1-0 advantage after one complete. Garner was able to knot the score in the top of the fourth with leadoff home run, but Shifflett got hold of the first pitch she saw and launched it over the outfield wall with the bases loaded to put JMU back in front, 5-1. Garner's second home run of the game and a Sydney Yoder RBI groundout cut the Pirate deficit to 5-3 in the top of the sixth, but a Lynsey Meeks RBI groundout in the home half of the frame provided the home team some insurance and capped the scoring.