Softball Splits Doubleheader at Memphis

Saturday, April 30

Memphis, Tenn.

Noon (DH)

Tulsa

29-15, 6-7

Memphis

24-27, 5-8

Tulsa

Memphis

Photo by: Dave Crenshaw

Softball Splits Doubleheader at Memphis

4/30/2016 6:48:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Eric Hollier

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Tulsa softball team defeated Memphis, 10-5, in the series opener, before falling in the second game, 5-0, Saturday in a doubleheader at the Memphis Softball Complex.

The Golden Hurricane (29-16, 6-8 American) scored early and often in the rain-delayed series opener, plating four runs in the first inning, and then adding single runs in the second and fifth innings, and two runs each in the fourth and sixth frames. The Tigers, meanwhile, scored three runs in the second and two in the seventh inning. The teams played a doubleheader Saturday after rain forced the postponement of Friday's opener.

In the first game, shortstop Shelby Estocado went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run, and second baseman Morgan Neal finished 3-for-4 with two RBI. Third baseman Maggie Withee also tallied three hits in five at bats, and scored twice, while right fielder Julia Hollingsworth tallied two hits and scored two runs.

Senior Caitlin Sill (16-8) went the distance in the victory, while Memphis starter Molly Smith (10-13) allowed four runs in 0.1 innings and took the loss.

In game 2, the Tigers (25-27, 6-8 American) scored two runs in the second and fourth innings, and one run in the fifth, while holding the Hurricane scoreless on four hits. TU starter Emily Watson (10-8) pitched 4.2 innings and took the loss, while Christian Novak (4-5) earned the complete-game win for Memphis.

The series rubber match is set for 11 a.m. on Sunday, one hour earlier than the originally scheduled noon start time.

Tulsa scored four runs in the first inning of Game 1, on catcher Catherine Horner's RBI double followed by Estocado's three-run homer. It was the sophomore's 11^th home run of the season. Withee and Hollingsworth set the table with a pair of singles.

In the second inning, left fielder Maddie Withee plated center fielder Jodi Edmiston with a sacrifice fly to make the score 5-0. In the fourth, first baseman Tori Stafford led off with a single and moved around to score on Hollingsworth's fielder's choice. On the next batter, Hollingsworth stole second, but the catcher's throw went awry, allowing Maggie Withee to score from third base, and giving TU a 7-3 lead.

Stafford extended Tulsa's lead to 8-3 with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, scoring Estocado, who led off the inning with a single. Neal drove in two runs with a two-out base hit to left center in the sixth inning, making it a 10-3 game. Maddie Withee and Hollingsworth set up the play with back-to-back one-out singles.

Memphis scored three runs in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by center fielder Lindsay Crowdus and a two-run single by first baseman Lindsey Stickrod. The Tigers cut Tulsa's lead to 10-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning, with a two-run home run by third baseman Tyler Johnson.

In Game 2, Maggie Withee, Hollingsworth, Horner and designated player Rylie Spell each tallied singles for the Hurricane. Withee and Hollingsworth both singled in the first inning, but a flyout and a pop out ended the threat. TU loaded the bases in the fourth after Horner's leadoff base hit and a pair of walks, but a strikeout ended the inning. Horner was the only Tulsa baserunner to advance past second base.

Spell, who reached base in all three at bats, singled in the sixth inning. She walked in the fourth, and reached on an error in the second inning. The Hurricane had a pair of runners on base in the seventh after a walk and a hit batter, before a flyout ended the game. TU totaled 16 fly or pop outs in the ballgame.

Memphis scored two runs in the second inning on a bases loaded walk to Crowdus, and an RBI single by left fielder Hannah Harrell. The Tigers added two runs in the fourth inning when right fielder Jessie Lamb and Crowdus walked, and then scored on a throwing error from the pitcher. An RBI walk in the fifth inning made the score 5-0.

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 10, Memphis 5 (Apr 30, 2016 at Memphis, Tenn.) (Game 1)
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Tulsa............... 410 212 0 - 10 16 2      (29-15, 6-7 American)
Memphis............. 030 000 2 - 5 11 1      (24-27, 5-8 American)
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Pitchers: Tulsa - SILL, Caitlin and HORNER, Catherine. Memphis - SMITH, M.; IRVIN, C.(1);
BRIGNAC, K.(5) and SEALE, B..
Win-SILL, Caitlin(16-8) Loss-SMITH, M.(10-13) T-2:05 A-187
HR TLS - ESTOCADO, Shelby (11).
HR MEMPHIS - JOHNSON, T. (3).
Weather: Temp:71F Wind:12mph in from CF
IRVIN, C. faced 2 batters in the 5th.

Memphis 5, Tulsa 0 (Apr 30, 2016 at Memphis, Tenn.) (Game 2)
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Tulsa............... 000 000 0 - 0 4 1      (29-16, 6-8 American)
Memphis............. 020 210 X - 5 4 1      (25-27, 6-8 American)
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Pitchers: Tulsa - WATSON, Emily; BLEVINS, Lexi(5) and HORNER, Catherine. Memphis - NOVAK, C.
and SEALE, B..
Win-NOVAK, C.(4-5) Loss-WATSON, Emily(10-8) T-2:01 A-112
Weather: Temp:73F Wind:11mph in from CF