Softball Ends Skid, Defeats Missouri State, 2-1

Wednesday, April 13

Springfield, Mo.

5 p.m.

Tulsa

28-11

Missouri State

14-22

Tulsa

Missouri State

Photo by: Dave Crenshaw

Softball Ends Skid, Defeats Missouri State, 2-1

4/13/2016 7:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Eric Hollier

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Freshman second baseman Morgan Neal homered and senior right fielder Kaitlin Allen drove in a run to lead the Tulsa softball team to a 2-1 win at Missouri State Wednesday evening at Killian Softball Stadium.

Sophomore Emily Watson struck out six batters and walked none in a complete-game victory for the Golden Hurricane. Watson improved her record to 10-7 on the season, while the Hurricane improved to 28-11 and stopped a four-game losing skid. TU won its 12^th in a row over the Bears (14-22).

TU scored in each of the first two innings, and allowed only a solo home run in the third inning by Missouri State. Watson scattered four MSU hits, allowing just three singles outside of the home run, and sat down the Bears in order in three innings. MSU starter Jessie Van Es (1-4) allowed two runs on three hits in 3.0 innings, and took the loss.

Neal's home run was her third of the season. Allen went 2-for-3 in the game, and junior left fielder Maddie Withee also singled, as TU totaled four hits in the game.

"That was a really nice performance by Watson in the circle – she didn't walk anybody, and allowed very few hits," Tulsa Head Coach John Bargfeldt said. "Although we didn't get many hits, we did take advantage of the ones we got. Kaitlin Allen swung the bat really well, and obviously Morgan Neal hit the home run. That's what we needed today – some people to step up. When a pitcher steps up and has that kind of performance, it doesn't put as much pressure on the offense."

Tulsa got on the board quickly when the second-hole hitter Neal homered to right field in the top of the first inning. In the second inning, Allen singled through the right side, scoring Jodi Edmiston to make the score 2-0. Edmiston reached on a fielder's choice and stole second – her 11^th steal of the year – before scoring on Allen's base hit.

Missouri State left fielder Hannah Heinrichs homered to right field in the bottom of the third to make the score 2-1.

Tulsa threatened in the fifth inning when Allen led off the frame with a double to right center, and moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt, but TU was unable to push another run across. Watson and the TU defense made the two runs stand up, however, only allowing four other baserunners in the game, and none of those past second base.

"The key today was coming out and getting on the board early, and then Watson having that kind of performance," Bargfeldt said. "You have to get out of the funk with a win. The confidence has to start somewhere."

The Golden Hurricane has the weekend off with its conference bye week, and returns to action Tuesday, April 19 against No. 9 Oklahoma at the Collins Family Softball Complex.

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, Missouri State 1 (Apr 13, 2016 at Springfield, Mo.)
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Tulsa............... 110 000 0 - 2 4 1 (28-11)
Missouri State...... 001 000 0 - 1 4 0 (14-22)
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Pitchers: Tulsa - WATSON, Emily and SPELL, Rylie; HORNER, Catherine. Missouri State - Van Es,J;
Struemph,E(4) and Fields,M; Frost,D.
Win-WATSON, Emily(10-7) Loss-Van Es,J(1-4) T-1:45 A-178
HR TLS - NEAL, Morgan (3).
HR MSU - Heinrichs,H (2).
Weather: Hazy sun, mid 60s, calm