Tulsa Softball Takes Game 1 Over ECU 5-0

Thursday, March 29

Collins Family Softball Complex

6 PM

Tulsa

20-14, 1-3

ECU

15-19, 1-3

ECU

Tulsa

Tulsa Softball Takes Game 1 Over ECU 5-0

3/29/2018 8:12:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: The University of Tulsa copyright

BOX SCORE PDF • SEASON STATS

TULSA, Okla. –– Tulsa scored five runs in the bottom of the 5^th inning and Emily Watson struck out 11 batters as the Golden Hurricane captured a 5-0 win in game one of the three-game series against the East Carolina Pirates Thursday night at the Collins Family Softball Complex.

Tulsa improved to 20-14 overall and 1-3 in the American Athletic Conference, while ECU fell to 15-19 and 1-3 in league play.

Both teams' bats were pretty quiet until Tulsa's plate appearance in the 5^th inning. Rylie Spell's home run over the outstretched glove of centerfielder Tyler King came with one out in the bottom of the inning gave the Hurricane a 1-0 lead.

"Rylie had a great at-bat the first time up. She's really come on and starting to see the ball well and putting good swings on the ball. She's so strong. She can hit the ball with authority all over the ballpark. It was good to see that from Rylie," said Tulsa head coach John Bargfeldt.

Tulsa's 8-9 hitters, Shannon Hughes and Mikayla Whitten, followed Spell's solo home run with singles, while Morgan Neal's double to to left centerfield scored both Hughes and Whitten.

After those two singles, ECU's Whitney Sanford came into the game to replace the Pirates Erin Poepping. Poepping went 4 1/3 innings, allowing 5 hits and 3 earned with 2 strikeouts.

Tulsa's Shelby Estocado walked to put runners on first and third. Tori Stafford's double to right field scored Neal and Estocado. Stafford advanced to third base on a throw to the plate, but Estocado slid underneath the tag.

Watson won her 12^th game as it was also her 5^th shutout of the season. She faced seven batters before allowing her first hit, as Kendra Ziemba was ECU's first base-runner in the 3^rd inning.

"With Emily, you have a pitcher that can hold you in a 0-0 game until your bats do get going. Especially when the hitters see the pitcher for a third time that's when better swings start happening," said Bargfeldt.

The two teams will square-off again on Friday with a 5:00 p.m. first pitch, and Saturday will be back on the field at 12 noon.