USF softball coach Ken Eriksen likes to say that his resilient team plays to 21 outs. However, that wouldn’t have been enough on Friday against Auburn in the Bulls’ NCAA Tallahassee Regional opening game.
USF needed to get 27 outs – that’s nine innings, if you’re keeping score at home – to put away the Tigers 12-7. That was after Auburn jumped out to a five-run lead after one inning.
It was USF’s 18th come-from-behind win, which ranks among the nation’s leaders. It was their largest NCAA tournament comeback win in school history.
It’s what the Bulls do.
The Bulls’ next game in the double-elimination tournament is Saturday at 1 p.m. They’ll play top-seeded Florida State, which routed Robert Morris 10-1 in Friday's second game. That game followed the wild back-and-forth between USF and Auburn.
Auburn came out firing, scoring five runs in the first and chasing USF starting pitcher Payton Dixon after only 2/3 of an inning.
Never fear. The Tigers had the lead, which meant the Bulls had them right where they wanted them.
By the fifth inning, Auburn’s lead was gone, and the Bulls led 6-5, powered by a pair of Josie Foreman home runs.
Give reliever Anne Long a lot of credit, too.
She got the final out in the first inning to stop what Eriksen told ESPN broadcasters was “an avalanche” by the Tigers. held Auburn scoreless as the Bulls battled back.
She allowed no runs and only three hits in four innings.
"It's nice to see these young women are playing old school bat and ball," Eriksen said. "Twenty-one outs (well, 27). The other team can't hold the ball. We have the same amount of opportunities. They have bought into that philosophy. No selifishness. I am so fortunate to be able to see it every day.
"I actually think this team has reversed the graying of my hair. They are so exciting."
Did we say fun?
Try this on for size.
USF second baseman Kathy Garcia-Soto is known for her magician-like defense. But with two outs in the eighth inning, she homered to left center.
It was her first home run of the season.
Auburn tied it with a two-out homer, and the game continued into the ninth.
But enough was enough.
The Bulls loaded the bases with no outs. Alanah Rivera was hit by a pitch, forcing in the go-ahead run. Camille Ortiz-Martinez then crushed a grand slam to right center, sending the USF dugout into a joyous celebration.
After outs No. 25, 26, and 27 were in the books, the Bulls could say they had finished the job.
This is a fun, loose team that never believes it is out of a game. Many other teams have learned that this season against the Bulls.
Now, Auburn knows, too.