South Florida Bulls softball
Founded1973[a]
UniversityUniversity of South Florida
Athletic directorMichael Kelly
All-time Record1,785-925-1 (.659)
Head coachKen Eriksen (24th season)
ConferenceAAC
LocationTampa, FL
Home stadiumUSF Softball Stadium (Capacity: 1,600)
NicknameBulls
ColorsGreen and gold[1]
   
ASA national champions
1983, 1984
NCAA WCWS appearances
2012
AIAW WCWS appearances
1976, 1981
NCAA Super Regional appearances
2006, 2012
NCAA Tournament appearances
1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Conference Tournament championships
2013
Regular Season Conference championships
1996, 1997, 1998, 2008, 2016, 2018, 2019

The South Florida Bulls softball team represents University of South Florida in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the American Athletic Conference. The Bulls are currently led by head coach Ken Eriksen. The team plays its home games at USF Softball Stadium located on the university's main campus in Tampa, Florida.[2]

USF's softball team has won two national championships, both coming before softball was an NCAA sanctioned sport. They won in the American Softball Association in 1983 and 1984.[3] They have also won eight conference championships, seven of which were regular season titles and one of which was in the conference tournament.[4] They have reached 17 NCAA tournaments

History

Pre-NCAA

Before softball officially became an NCAA sport in 1985, the Bulls (known as the Lady Brahmans until 1987) played in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women and the American Softball Association. Unfortunately, not many records exist from this era of USF softball, and 1985 is recognized by the school as the first official season of the team as that is the year they joined the NCAA. However, it is known that the team's actual first season of play was in 1973 and that the team went to the AIAW Quarterfinals in 1976 and 1981.[5] Hildred Deese was USF's only head coach for this entire era; she also coached the USF volleyball team from 1979–1983.[6] After the AIAW disbanded in 1982, the American Softball Association (now USA Softball) took over as the top collegiate governing body for the sport. The Lady Brahmans won the national championship in both years of the ASA before joining the NCAA in 1985, making them the first team in USF history to win a national championship.[7][8]

Early NCAA years (1985–1996)

Hildred Deese continued as head coach for the early years of USF in the NCAA. For most of these years, USF competed without a conference affiliation as their main conferences during this time did not sponsor softball as a sport, but they joined the softball-only Southern Atlantic Softball Alliance in 1995 along with big-name teams like Florida State. Although the Bulls finished with a winning percentage of .500 or better during every year of Deese's tenure, they were not selected for the NCAA tournament until her final year coaching the team in 1996, in which they won their first conference title.[9]

Ken Eriksen era (1996–present)

Following Deese's retirement, she was replaced by Ken Eriksen, who played on the USF baseball team from 1981–1984. Under the new coach, the Bulls won the SASA title in 1997 and 1998, with the 1998 team finishing with a .803 win percentage, the best record in team history to that point. Conference USA started sponsoring softball in 2000, so the Bulls left SASA after 1999. They had less success in CUSA and never won a title in that league, but started to become mainstays in the NCAA tournament during their time in the conference, reaching the tournament in 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2003, Leigh Ann Ellis became the first USF softball pitcher to throw a perfect game.

The Bulls left Conference USA for the Big East starting in 2006, and reached their first NCAA Super Regional that year where they fell to UCLA. The Bulls won their first Big East title in 2008. In 2011, the new USF Softball Stadium opened. USF's 2012 season was their most successful since joining the NCAA. Pitcher Sara Nevins threw a perfect game in March, the Bulls hosted a Super Regional for the first time, and secured their first-ever NCAA Women's College World Series berth. USF won their first conference tournament in 2013 (albeit the SASA did not have a conference tournament while USF was a member) before joining the American Athletic Conference in 2014.

Sara Nevins threw another perfect game in 2014 en route to another NCAA tournament appearance. USF won its first American Athletic Conference crown in 2016, then won again in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, Ken Eriksen temporarily took a leave of absence from the team to coach the USA national team for the 2020 Summer Olympics and assistant coach Jessica Moore was named the interim coach.[10] The season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Eriksen returned the following year.

In 2021, Eriksen became the first USF coach in any sport to lead his team to 1,000 wins, doing so during a no hitter pitched by Georgina Corrick (the first of two no hitters Corrick pitched in back-to-back days).[11] Corrick is not only considered the greatest USF softball player of all time, but also one of the greatest college softball players ever. She holds USF's all time records in many categories including wins, strikeouts, innings pitched, complete games, shutouts, and opponent batting average.[12] Despite an injury that prevented her from playing in the conference or NCAA tournaments, Corrick's 2022 season was one of the most dominant college softball seasons ever, achieving a 37–5 record with 21 shutouts and 34 complete games, 418 strikeouts, an ERA of 0.51, and two perfect games. She was unanimously named the 2022 NCAA Pitcher of the Year and was the first college softball pitcher to win a Triple Crown.[13][14][15]

Coaching history

Years Name Record Win percentage
1973–1996 Hildred Deese 686-355 .659
1997–2019, 2021–present Ken Eriksen 1,083–561–1 .659
2020 Jessica Moore (interim) 16-9 .640

Season by season results

Year Conference Games played Record Win percentage Conference record Head coach Postseason/Notes
1973 Independent (AIAW) 13 10–3 .769 N/A Hildred Deese
1974 18 13–5 .722
1975 11 6–5 .545
1976 39 30–9 .769 AIAW Quarterfinal
1977 21 10–11 .476
1978 31 18–13 .581
1979 42 32–10 .762
1980 37 21–16 .568
1981 60 37–23 .617 AIAW Quarterfinal
1982 56 40–16 .714
1983 Independent (ASA) 67 52–15 .776 ASA National Champions
1984 38 31–7 .816 ASA National Champions
1985 Independent (NCAA) 59 43–16 .729
1986 50 39–11 .780
1987 51 32–19 .627
1988 52 26–26 .500
1989 48 22–26 .458
1990 45 27–18 .600
1991 53 35–18 .660
1992 51 34–17 .667
1993 46 28–18 .609
1994 51 30–21 .588
1995 Southern Atlantic Softball Alliance 49 29–20 .592 9–3
1996 53 41–12 .774 10–2 NCAA Regional
1997 63 50–13 .794 12–0 Ken Eriksen NCAA Regional
1998 71 57–14 .803 11–1 NCAA Regional
1999 70 44–26 .629 6–6
2000 Conference USA 73 41–33 .562 13–9
2001 77 43–34 .558 14–11 NCAA Regional
2002 58 24–33–1 .414 9–13
2003 73 54–19 .740 19–8 NCAA Regional
2004 74 60–14 .811 18–5 NCAA Regional
2005 71 42–29 .592 17–11 NCAA Regional
2006 Big East 75 50–25 .667 17–3 NCAA Super Regional
2007 66 44–22 .667 15–5
2008 64 44–20 .688 16–4 NCAA Regional
2009 56 34–22 .607 12–10
2010 53 24–29 .453 9–13
2011 54 33–21 .611 13–5
2012 64 50–14 .781 17–5 Women's College World Series
2013 61 45–16 .738 18–3 NCAA Regional
2014 American Athletic Conference 60 43–17 .717 13–5 NCAA Regional
2015 56 36–20 .643 6–10
2016 61 45–16 .738 15–3 NCAA Regional
2017 56 32–24 .571 9–8
2018 62 39–23 .629 14–7 NCAA Regional
2019 60 41–19 .683 17–4 NCAA Regional
2020 27 16–9 .640 0–0 Jessica Moore (interim)[b] Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2021 50 31–19 .633 16–7 Ken Eriksen NCAA Regional
2022 61 45–16 .738 12–5 NCAA Regional
2023 56 32–24 .571 10–7
Total 2,711 1,785–925–1 .659 367–173 21 Appearances
Bold indicates tournament won
Italics indicate Conference Championship

[16][17][18][19]

Championships

National Championships

Season League Record Head coach
1983 American Softball Association 52-15 Hildred Deese
1984 American Softball Association 31-7 Hildred Deese

Conference Championships

Season Conference Conference record Head coach
1997 Conference USA 12–0 Ken Eriksen
1998 Conference USA 11–1 Ken Eriksen
2008 Big East Conference 16–4 Ken Eriksen
2016 American Athletic Conference 15–3 Ken Eriksen
2018 American Athletic Conference 14–7 Ken Eriksen
2019 American Athletic Conference 17–4 Ken Eriksen

Conference Tournament Championships

Season Conference Location Head coach
2013 Big East Conference Tampa, FL Ken Eriksen

Coaching staff

Name Position Years with team
Ken Eriksen Head coach 23
Jessica Moore Associate Head Coach 6
Tommy Santiago Assistant coach 2
Morgan Gross Assistant coach 2
Kristen Wyckoff Volunteer assistant coach 2
Michele Latimer Senior athletic trainer 15
Reference:[20]

Perfect Games and No Hitters

Perfect Games

USF pitchers have thrown five perfect games in school history:[21]

No Hitters

Bulls pitchers have also thrown 29 no hitters (not including no hitters that were also perfect games):

Awards and honors

All-Americans

First team
Second team
Third team

National awards

NFCA National Pitcher of the Year
Softball America Pitcher of the Year
NFCA Golden Shoe Award

NCAA Pitching Triple Crown

Conference awards

Sources:[25][26]

Conference USA Pitcher of the Year
Conference USA Freshman of the Year
Big East Pitcher of the Year
Big East Freshman of the Year
AAC Player of the Year
AAC Pitcher of the Year
AAC Freshman of the Year
AAC Defensive Player of the Year

National Team members

USF Athletic Hall of Fame

Main article: University of South Florida Athletic Hall of Fame

USF Softball Hall of Fame

Softball is one of USF's only sports to have its own Hall of Fame outside of the USF Athletic Hall of Fame. The inductees as of 2022 are:[12]

Name Position Years with USF
Leslie Kanter Shortstop 1983–86
Denise Rubio Second Base 1985–88
Susan Main Outfield 1986–87
Debbie Morash Pitcher 1986–87
Lisa Wunar Third Base 1986–89
Dawn Melfi Second Base 1991–92
Amy Putnam Catcher 1993–96
1996 NCAA Tournament Team – 1996
Jennifer Thompson Pitcher 1996–99
Monica Triner Pitcher 1996–99
Lea Mishlan Shortstop 1997–2000
Ginny Georgantis Infielder 1998–2001
Courtney Lewellen Catcher 2000–03
Renee Oursler Infielder/Outfielder 2000–03
Shelly Riker Outfielder 2001–04
Holly Groves Designated Player 2002–04
Carmela Liwag First Base 2002–05
Leigh Ann Ellis Pitcher 2003–04
Christie Chapman Shortstop 2003–06
Krista Holle Infielder 2003–06
Tiffany Stewart Outfielder 2004–06
2006 Super Regional Team – 2006
Britta Giddens Second Base 2006–09
Kit Dunbar Outfielder 2007–08
Gina Kafalas Outfielder 2009–12
Janine Richardson Shortstop 2009–12
Lindsey Richardson Pitcher 2010–13
Ashli Goff Outfielder 2011–14
Stephanie Medina First Base 2011–14
Sara Nevins Pitcher 2011–14
Kourtney Salvarola Shortstop 2011–14
Jessica Mouse Third Base 2012
2012 WCWS Team – 2012
Kenshyra Jackson Third Base 2012–13
Erica Nunn Pitcher 2013–16
Lee Ann Spivey Catcher/Outfielder 2013–16

Note: Bold indicates members of the USF Athletic Hall of Fame

Media

Under the current American Athletic Conference TV deal, all home and in-conference away softball games are shown on one of the various ESPN networks or streamed live on ESPN+.[27] Live radio broadcasts of games are also available worldwide for free on the Bulls Unlimited digital radio station on TuneIn.[28]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ While the team started play in the AIAW in 1973, the university considers 1985 to be the founding year because it is the year the team joined the NCAA.
  2. ^ Ken Eriksen on leave with Team USA

References

  1. ^ USF Athletics Brand Guide (PDF). August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  2. ^ "USF SOFTBALL STADIUM". GoUSFBulls.com. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  3. ^ Greenberg, Mark (2006-01-01). "University of South Florida: The First Fifty Years, 1956-2006". Western Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications.
  4. ^ "Championships and Success". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  5. ^ "University of South Florida yearbook. (1982)". digital.lib.usf.edu. Archived from the original on 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  6. ^ "2019 USF VB Media Guide (PDF)" (PDF). USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  7. ^ "Lady Brahmans Win Title". Ocala Star-Banner. Ocala, Florida. May 10, 1983. p. 6C. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
  8. ^ "USF 50th Anniversary - College of Education "Remember When"". fcit.usf.edu. Archived from the original on 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  9. ^ "2020 Softball Media Guide (PDF)" (PDF). USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  10. ^ "Jessica Moore - Softball Coach". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  11. ^ "Corrick Nearly Perfect as Eriksen Reaches Milestone win 1,000". USF Athletics. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  12. ^ a b "2023 Softball Media Guide (PDF)" (PDF). USF Athletics. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  13. ^ a b "South Florida Softball's Corrick Named NFCA DI Pitcher of the Year". theamerican.org. 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  14. ^ a b Staff, S. A. "2022 NCAA Pitcher Of The Year: Georgina Corrick". www.softballamerica.com. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  15. ^ a b "USF Softball's Corrick Earns Pitching Triple Crown". USF Athletics. 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  16. ^ "2020 Softball Media Guide (PDF)" (PDF). USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  17. ^ "University of South Florida yearbook. (1982)". digital.lib.usf.edu. Archived from the original on 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  18. ^ "University of South Florida yearbook. (1983)". digital.lib.usf.edu. Archived from the original on 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  19. ^ "University of South Florida yearbook. (1984)". digital.lib.usf.edu. Archived from the original on 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  20. ^ "South Florida Softball Coaches". GoUSFBulls.com. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  21. ^ "2020 Softball Media Guide (PDF)" (PDF). USF Athletics. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  22. ^ "Corrick Throws Fourth Perfect Game in USF Softball History". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  23. ^ "Corrick Perfect, Breaks More Records as USF Softball Sweeps Doubleheader on Senior Day". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
  24. ^ Swan, Lance. "Golden Shoe Awards | National Fastpitch Coaches Association". NFCA. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  25. ^ "Conference USA Softball Record Book" (PDF). ConferenceUSA.com. Conference USA. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  26. ^ "Big East Softball Record Book" (PDF). BigEast.com. THE BIG EAST CONFERENCE. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  27. ^ "AAC, ESPN Agree To 12-Year Media-Rights Deal Worth $1B". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  28. ^ "Bulls Unlimited". USF Athletics. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
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