TU Wins a Pair on Opening Day of FAU “Strike-Out Cancer” Tournament

Friday, February 23

Boca Raton, Fla.

8 AM

Tulsa

4-6

Dartmouth

0-1

Dartmouth

Tulsa

TU Wins a Pair on Opening Day of FAU “Strike-Out Cancer” Tournament

2/23/2018 5:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Game 1 Box Score (.pdf) | Game 2 Box Score (.pdf) | Season Stats (.pdf)

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The University of Tulsa softball team opened play at the FAU "Strike-Out Cancer" Tournament with an 8-0 run-rule victory over Dartmouth before a 7-2 triumph against UIC on Friday at the FAU Softball Stadium.

The Golden Hurricane (5-6) offense produced double-digit hits in both contests, while the TU pitching staff did not allow an earned run on the day. Shelby Estocado and Sarah Briers each produced four hits during the day, while Estocado drove in a season-high four runs against Dartmouth.

Tulsa struck first against the Big Green (0-1) with two runs in the bottom of the first. Estocado singled in a run and Haley Meinen doubled home another with two outs for the early lead. The Hurricane tacked on another run to make it 3-0 on Estocado's double in the third.

The cushion was more than enough for pitcher Samantha Pochop, who allowed just one hit and a pair of walks to go along with four strikeouts in four innings. She was relieved by Madison Higley in the fifth and the sophomore tossed two scoreless innings, yielding just a walk, with two strikeouts.

The Tulsa offense then ended the game with a five-run bottom of the sixth for the 8-0 run-rule.

Briers singled to left to bring home a run before Morgan Neal was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for another score. Tori Stafford followed with an RBI-single and Estocado's single to left brought two more home to end the game.

In the second game of the day, the Hurricane again got a pair of runs in the first inning to take an early lead. The Flames (2-3) defense could not handle a grounder off the bat of Meinen that allowed both runs to score.

TU extended the lead to 4-0 with two more in the fourth when Julia Hollingsworth dropped a run-scoring single to left and Stafford lifted a sacrifice fly to right field. The Hurricane then added a run in the fifth on Mikayla Whitten's sac fly and another in the sixth on an error for a 6-0 advantage.

Tulsa pitcher Emily Watson scattered six hits in six shutout innings and notched six strikeouts to improve to 3-2 on the campaign.

Neal pushed across another run in the top of the seventh to make it 7-0. Meinen pitched the final inning and allowed a pair of unearned runs on one hit, but the Flames would get no closer as the junior closed the door for the 7-2 final.

Tulsa will continue play at the tournament on Saturday, Feb. 24, when it will face Texas State (6-4) and Columbia (0-0).

#ForOurCity