Softball Season Concludes at NCAA Regional Saturday

Saturday, May 21

Norman, Okla.

4 p.m.

Tulsa

35-21

Wichita State

36-20

Wichita State

Tulsa

Softball Season Concludes at NCAA Regional Saturday

5/21/2016 10:07:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Eric Hollier

Box Score

NORMAN, Okla. –– Tulsa's softball season, which included a conference championship and its eighth NCAA postseason appearance, came to an end Saturday evening, with a 2-1 defeat to Wichita State in the NCAA Norman Regional at Marita Hynes Field.

The Golden Hurricane concludes the season with a 35-21 record after winning the American Athletic Conference Championship and making its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last 11 years.

Wichita State (36-20) scored two runs in the third inning, before the Hurricane cut it to 2-1 in the sixth. TU loaded the bases before senior Catherine Horner drew a walk, but TU was only able to plate the lone run.

"It's kind of interesting that the game ended this way because it's kind of indicative of our season," Tulsa Head Coach John Bargfeldt said. "It's shown us ways that we have to get better. We just weren't able to square up on enough balls. Five of the eight hits Lexi [Blevins] gave up didn't make it out of the infield. She didn't deserve the outcome she had. We just have to get better at infield defense and be more of a consistent offensive threat. That was the story of the ballgame - we just didn't generate enough offense to win."

Sophomore Lexi Blevins made her second career start, and went the distance. Blevins, who had pitched 5.2 shutout innings against the Shockers on April 27, allowed eight hits, only three of which left the infield. She also pitched her second complete game on Saturday.

Wichita State pitcher Katie Malone (15-8) allowed an unearned run on four hits in the win.

Tulsa cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning. Juniors Maggie and Maddie Withee led off the inning with singles to left field, and an error at second loaded the bases on sophomore Shelby Estocado's fielder's choice grounder. Horner then drew a two-out walk to score Maggie Withee. A pop out to third ended the inning with the bases loaded.

Wichita State scored twice in the third inning on back-to-back RBI singles by left fielder Brittany Fortner and third baseman Liz Broyles. The Shockers had four singles around a fielder's choice in the inning, before a groundout and fly out ended the inning.

Tulsa had a scoring opportunity in the first inning when Maddie Withee lined a one-out single to right field, and freshman Julia Hollingsworth drove a double to the warning track in left. A fielder's choice grounder, however, cut off the run at the plate, followed by a groundout that ended the inning.

The Hurricane did not generate a baserunner between the second and fourth innings, before Horner led off the fifth with a walk. She advanced to third base, but a groundout ended the inning.

In 2016, Tulsa won its fifth conference tournament title, and 10^th conference title overall. It was also the program's first championship as a member of the American Athletic Conference.

"To say that we won our conference tournament being the underdogs we were, is absolutely a high point for our team," Horner said. "To make it to the NCAA Tournament is a huge accomplishment and that totally overshadows our mid-season lull."

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.

Wichita State 2, Tulsa 1 (May 21, 2016 at Norman, Okla.)
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Wichita State....... 002 000 0 - 2 8 1 (36-20)
Tulsa............... 000 001 0 - 1 4 1 (35-21)
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Pitchers: Wichita State - Malone, Katie and Wright, Mackenzie. Tulsa - BLEVINS, Lexi and
HORNER, Catherine.
Win-Malone, Katie(15-8) Loss-BLEVINS, Lexi(1-1) T-2;16 A-0