Corrick’s no-hitter highlights Bulls’ sweep of North Dakota

Junior pitcher Georgina Corrick has a 1.60 ERA through 61.1 innings pitched this season. USF ATHLETICS PHOTO

Junior pitcher Georgina Corrick made history Saturday against North Dakota, throwing the 28th no-hitter in USF softball history in the Bulls’ 2-0 victory. USF also swept the Fighting Eagles in the three-game series over the weekend.

Corrick struck out 13 batters, and the only blemishes on her performance were a pair of walks, one in the top of the fourth inning and the other in the top of the sixth.

It was the third no-hitter Corrick has been involved in at USF, with the first coming her freshman year in 2018 against North Florida. She also combined for a no-hitter with freshman Vivian Ponn against FIU last season.

Despite the historic achievement, Corrick said she felt she still wasn’t at her best 

“I definitely didn’t feel like I was quite crisp enough … I missed a couple spots, there were a couple of pitches that I just wasn’t really happy with, so I definitely think I can improve on that,” Corrick said. “I know last time I threw against North Dakota yesterday, I was really heavy with my changeup, but today I didn’t feel that. My changeup wasn’t as good as it has been … so I had to pick a different pitch to kind of be a little bit better with.

“I was able to utilize my riseball a little bit more, go away on them hard. So, definitely I have a lot of things that I am like picking on myself on … despite the no-hitter, which is always an amazing achievement, I definitely want to get better and I want to use this as a learning experience moving forward.”

Coach Ken Eriksen echoed his ace’s sentiment, while also giving her some well-deserved credit.

“[Corrick] wasn’t as sharp as we’ve seen her, but she had some movement, and [with] a free-swinging team like North Dakota, you have a chance to throw a no-hitter,” Eriksen said. “You have a chance to throw a lot of strikeouts because they just come out hacking … [Corrick] gives us consistency, it was nice for her to come in the first game and keep it at the eight-run differential, we didn’t want anything to get started, we wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.”

While Corrick may not have played to her personal standards, the Bulls’ offense rose to the occasion during the series.

In Game 1, USF scored four runs in the first three innings but caught fire in the fourth, driving in eight runners.

A three-run home run from junior Bethany Keen followed directly after by a solo home run by junior Kyndall Williams highlighted the fire seen in the fourth-inning rally. The offensive explosion helped lead the Bulls to a 12-0 win.

Game 2 proved more of the same as USF drove in 13 runs thanks to contributions the entire lineup, highlighted by a solo home run in the bottom of fourth off the bat of sophomore Megan Pierro. 

“Our hitters finally looked like they were comfortable,” Eriksen said. “Hitters are getting reps, in game reps, they’re a little closer together not spread.” 

In the second game, the Bulls started Ponn on the mound. Ponn threw two innings and allowed only two earned runs on four hits and two strikeouts. Ponn secured her first win of the season and the Bulls achieved a 13-4 victory.

In the final game, the bats weren’t quite as hot after a two-run first inning, but those runs were all the Bulls needed as Corrick took over.

USF is on a five-game winning streak in collegiate play. For Eriksen, keeping the current course is fairly simple.

“It’s not a magic formula to what we do, there never has been,” Eriksen said. “Just play well and don’t worry about the scoreboard.”

The Bulls are back at home Wednesday against North Florida. Game 1 of the doubleheader starts at 4 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN+.