Softball Grabs Opening Day Wins over Wright State and Hofstra

Friday, February 12

Boca Raton, Fla.

12:30 p.m.

Tulsa

1-0

Wright State

1-1

Wright State

Tulsa

Softball Grabs Opening Day Wins over Wright State and Hofstra

2/12/2016 6:12:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Eric Hollier

Box Score vs Wright State | Box Score vs Hofstra

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The University of Tulsa softball team defeated Wright State, 2-1, and Hofstra, 6-3, Friday afternoon to open the 2016 season at the FAU Kick-Off Classic at FAU Stadium.

Sophomore Emily Watson (1-0) and senior Caitlin Sill (1-0) picked up complete-game victories in the circle for the Golden Hurricane (2-0). Watson struck out 11 batters and allowed six hits and an unearned run in the 2-1 win over Wright State. Sill struck out three and allowed one earned run in the victory over Hofstra.

Freshman Morgan Neal and sophomore Shelby Estocado each drove in a run in the opener against Wright State. Neal and junior Maddie Withee each had two RBI, and seniors Catherine Horner and Jocelyn Sheffield added one RBI apiece against Hofstra.

The Golden Hurricane plays Saturday at 2:45 p.m. CT against Penn State, and again at 7:15 p.m. CT against FAU.

Tulsa scored both of its runs in the first inning of the opener against Wright State. Senior Jodi Edmiston hit a one-out infield single to second base, and Neal followed with a triple in her first collegiate at bat to drive home the run. Neal later scored on Estocado's fielder's choice grounder.

Edmiston and Withee each finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate and junior Maggie Withee added a base hit for the Hurricane, which totaled seven hits in the ballgame. The Raiders scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh on a double by the pitcher Ally Russell.

In Game 2 against Hofstra, Tulsa jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning on a two-run double by Maddie Withee. The hit scored Estocado and freshman Julia Hollingsworth, who both reached on walks. The Hurricane extended its lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Sheffield – her first of the season.

Tulsa added three runs in the top of the sixth to extend its lead to 6-3. After Sheffield, Maggie Withee and Edmiston all singled to lead the bases, Neal drove home two runs with a single to right field. Horner followed with an RBI groundout.

Hofstra scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run double by Brielle Pietrafesa, to make the score 3-2.The Pride added one run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI double by Caryn Bailey.

Sheffield and Maggie Withee each recorded two hits in the game, and Edmiston, Neal and Maddie Withee added one hit apiece. Freshman Lauren Lomax also scored her first career run on Neal's double after pinch running for Sheffield in the sixth inning. Each team totaled seven hits in the ballgame.

Follow Tulsa Softball on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TulsaSoftball and Facebook at www.facebook.com/TulsaWSoftball. Follow Tulsa Athletics on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TulsaHurricane and Facebook at www.facebook.com/TulsaHurricane.

Tulsa 2, Wright State 1 (Feb 12, 2016 at Boca Raton, FL)
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Wright State........ 000 000 1 - 1 6 1      (1-1)
Tulsa............... 200 000 X - 2 7 2      (1-0)
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Pitchers: Wright State - RUSSELL and K. PFEFFER. Tulsa - WATSON, Emily and HORNER, Catherine.
Win-WATSON, Emily(1-0) Loss-RUSSELL T-2:08 A-0
Weather: 73 sunny

Tulsa 6, Hofstra 3 (Feb 12, 2016 at Boca Raton, FL)
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Tulsa............... 002 103 0 - 6 7 2      (2-0)
Hofstra............. 000 200 1 - 3 7 1      (0-1)
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Pitchers: Tulsa - SILL, Caitlin and HORNER, Catherine. Hofstra - Grimm; Scarpato(6) and Allocca.
Win-SILL, Caitlin(1-0) Loss-Grimm(0-1) T-2:05 A-0
HR TLS - SHEFFIELD, Jocelyn.
Weather: 73 Sunny
Grimm faced 2 batters in the 6th.