NE Oklahoma News

The University of Tulsa softball team dominated Alcorn State 15-0 in five innings before taking down the hosts Southern Mississippi 4-2 at the Golden Eagle Invitational on Saturday.  
 
Tulsa moves to 4-5 on the season with the two wins, while Alcorn State dropped to 3-5 and USM (5-1) suffered its first loss after playing the Golden Hurricane.
 
Maura Moore (3-1), Kylee Nash (1-2) and Riley Grant all featured in the circle on Saturday. Nash and Grant combined to throw a two-hit shutout against the Braves in the early game. Nash struck out one while allowing just a single hit in three innings, while Grant struck out four in two innings with one hit.
 
In the second game, Moore went the distance for the fourth time this season, allowing two runs on six hits while fanning three and walking a pair.
 
Six different Hurricane picked up at least one of Tulsa's eight RBIs in the opening game. Imani Edwards finished 3-for-3 with a triple, three RBIs and three runs scored. Despite the 15 runs, she was the lone batter to have a multi-hit game.
 
Edwards would finish the day with five hits in six at-bats with four RBI. Claira Skaggs played the hero in game two with a two-run triple, and Celeste Wood also had two hits and an RBI against the Golden Eagles.
 
The TU defense committed a pair of errors in the 15-0 win but were perfect in the afternoon matchup. Alcorn State was guilty of four errors, while USM avoided any mistakes in the defense.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – Tulsa 15, Alcorn State 0
 
The Hurricane jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Haley Morgan drew a leadoff walk and after a stolen base and wild pitch, Celeste Wood drove her home with a single.
 
In the second, Tulsa took advantage of mistakes and small ball to add three runs. After Skaggs reached via an error, back-to-back singles loaded the bags. Two wild pitches brought in a pair of runs, and a sac fly from Morgan brought in a third to make it 4-0 after two.
 
Tulsa's big inning came in the third as TU put an additional six runs up. With a pair of runs already in for the inning, Morgan singled up the middle with the bases loaded, bringing two more runs in. As the throw came home, Morgan moved on to second and then an error allowed her and Edwards to come all the way in to score, making it 10-0 Hurricane.   
 
Edwards tripled in three runs in the fourth and was brought in on a ground out. Rylee Keith ended Tulsa's scoring with a bang, blasting a solo shot to left, the first home run for the Hurricane this season.
 
GAME NOTES
 
» Nash and Grant combined to throw a two-hit shutout while striking out five
» Tulsa pushed six runs across in the third inning, the largest single inning of the season s
» The Golden Hurricane out-hit the Lady Braves 9-2, going 2-for-4 with the bases loaded 
» Rylee Keith delivered Tulsa's first home run of the season
» The Golden Hurricane got two hits in four at-bats with the bases loaded.
» The Golden Hurricane drew five walks
» Edwards led the Golden Hurricane at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a triple and three RBI ... Morgan also finished with three RBIs.
» Alcorn State senior Kristian Edwards, who went 1-for-2, and pitcher A'Mya Stevens were the only two Braves to collect a hit
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – Tulsa 4, Southern Mississippi 2
 
Both teams were held scoreless until the third inning in game two. Morgan got things going in the top of the frame with a walk, and then she advanced on a wild pitch. A bunt single put runners on the corner with nobody out, allowing Celeste Wood to break the deadlock with a single through the left side.
 
Southern Miss quickly tied it up in the second with a sac-bunt, but the threat ended there as a Golden Eagle runner got caught between second and third and was tagged out after the tying run scored.
 
Each team would add a baserunner in the fourth but were held scoreless. Skaggs got to play the hero in the top of the fifth to give Tulsa the advantage. MacKenzie Denson and Wood both singled to get on, and then advanced to second and third on a ground out. With one away, Skaggs tripled to right field, scoring two and putting Tulsa up 3-1. Edwards brought her home in the next at-bat.
 
Moore retired the Golden Eagles without much incident in the fifth and then worked through a leadoff double in the sixth. After getting the first out in the seventh, USM started to cause some trouble with a single and double to put both runners in scoring position and bring the tying run to the plate.
 
Moore forced a ground out to first which froze the runner at third and put Tulsa an out away from the win. A pinch-hit single with two away brought in one run, but Tulsa's defense made a fantastic play, catching the runner at second between third and home and applying the tag for third and final out.
 
GAME NOTES
 
» The Golden Hurricane out-hit the Lady Eagles 9-6
» Neither team committed an error
» Tulsa went 4-for-13 (.308) with runners in scoring position.
» Tulsa pitchers faced 27 Southern Miss hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out three.
» The Golden Hurricane drew four walks from Southern Miss pitching.
» Skaggs led the Golden Hurricane at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.
» Southern Miss was led offensively by sophomore Scout Jennings, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles.
» Senior Morgan Leinstock led the Lady Eagles pitching staff, throwing seven innings of four-run ball. 

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