USF Softball Faces Hartford and North Texas

The USF Bulls, 25-5 on the year, host another double header before the start of conference play on Saturday.

The Bulls will face Hartford at 5PM and then will face North Texas at 7PM as they look to notch two more wins before the start of Big East play.

Hartford is 4-9 on the year, but will be looking for the big upset win in the first game (face North Texas before facing USF).

Hartford is led by freshman catcher Peyton Fisher (5-5) who is batting .341 with 1 home run and 6 RBIs on the season. Sophomore 2B Amber Andrews (5-3) is batting .262 with 4 RBIs. Sophomore 1B Chelsey Mooney (5-6) is batting .256 with 3 RBIs and junior UTL player Kate Wacyk (5-6) is batting .190 with 6 RBIs. They do not hit for a lot of power, but will try to get runners on base and manufacture runs, putting constant pressure on the USF pitching staff. Their pitching staff is led by senior RHP Siera Sheehan (5-7) who is 4-1, tossing 48.1 innings, allowing 49 hits, 31 walks, and has 26 strike outs. Sophomore RHP Kaityln Meade (5-8) is 0-5 while working 24.1 innings, allowing 37 hits, 18 walks, and has struck out 9 batters.

This could be a great game for the USF offense to take advantage and put up a few runs early, taking the pressure off of the pitchers. After this game, the Bulls will face North Texas who enters the game at 11-14.

Mean Green is led by senior catcher Caitlin Grimes (5-7) who is batting .312 with 6 home runs and has 20 RBIs on the season. Senior infielder Lisa Johnson (5-7) is batting .312 with 3 home runs and 18 RBIs. Sophomore infielder Brooke Foster (5-3) is batting .299 with 3 home runs and 13 RBIs and senior Maddelyn Fraley (5-8) is batting .347 with 7 home runs and 18 RBIs to round out a powerful lineup that will challenge the Bulls pitching staff. The pitching staff is anchored by junior RHP Brittany Simmons (5-9) who is 7-5 on the year while tossing 83.1 innings, allowing 84 hits, 33 walks, and has struck out 45 batters. Sophomore RHP Ashley Kirk is 2-4 and has pitched 53.2 innings, allowing 47 hits, 39 walks, and has struck out 55 batters.

This is going to be another close game due to the offensive firepower the Mean Green have in their batting order and their solid pitching staff. USF needs to win this game as they head into the start of Big East play with Rutgers coming to town on Saturday for a double header.