Tulsa
Southern Miss
Big Innings Help Tulsa Past Southern Miss in Game One
3/24/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 24, 2012
Box Score |
Box Score 
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Tulsa softball team scored 13 runs on 14 hits to win game one at Southern Miss, 13-8, Saturday afternoon at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
Designated player Lacey Middlebrooks had four RBI on three hits and combined with first baseman Skylar Swanson (three RBI) and shortstop Samantha Cobb (two RBI) to drive in nine runs for the Golden Hurricane (20-6, 6-1 C-USA). Center fielder Caitlin Everett had four hits, and along with third baseman Jill Barrett and Cobb, scored three runs.
Aimee Creger (10-2) struck out 11 batters in 6.0 innings, and just two of the six runs she allowed were earned. Gabby Luciani (2-4) allowed nine earned runs in the complete-game loss for the Golden Eagles (10-15, 2-5 C-USA)
Tulsa scored three runs in each of the third and fourth innings, then added two runs in the sixth and five insurance runs in the seventh, while USM scored two runs in the third, and six runs over the final two innings.
Middlebrooks gave TU the first lead with a three-run double in the third inning that scored Jill Barrett, Cobb and Swanson. Barrett reached on a fielder's choice, Cobb drew the first of her three walks in the game, and Swanson singled to load the bases.
Southern Miss answered with two runs in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by third baseman Chanell Thurman, and left fielder Stephanie Shiflet stole home for the second run.
The Hurricane scored three more runs in the fourth on a two-run double by Cobb and a base hit by Swanson. Cobb's two-bagger to left plated left fielder Cierra Hughes, who reached on a bunt single, and Everett, who singled to left center. Cobb then scored on Swanson's base hit to center field.
TU expanded its lead to 8-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. Swanson lifted a sacrifice fly to score Everett, who led off the inning with a single up the middle, and Middlebrooks doubled to right, scoring Barrett, who reached on a bunt single.
The Golden Eagles scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth to make the score, 8-6. First baseman Taylor Brown reached on a one-out error, shortstop Caroline Walker doubled, and Brown scored on a throwing error at third base. Catcher Mackenzie Sher walked, second baseman Carissa Turang reached on a fielder's choice and right fielder Omeshia Moffett hit a two-run single to center field.
Tulsa, however, continued it barrage at the plate and added five insurance runs in top of the seventh. Right fielder Jessica Stoelke led off the inning with a single through the right side, catcher Cassidy Bowen walked, and Hughes sacrifice bunted the runners to second and third. Everett followed with an RBI single and Barrett hit into a fielder's choice to score Bowen. Cobb and Swanson drew back-to-back walks, Middlebrooks lofted a sacrifice fly, and Blanton hit an infield single. The last three batters each drove in a run to give TU a 13-6 lead.
Southern Miss got an RBI single from Brown, who then scored on a fielder's choice by Sher in the bottom of the seventh off of TU reliever Kalynn Schrock. The sophomore left-hander, however, closed out the game for the Hurricane.
For all Tulsa softball news and information, visit www.TulsaHurricane.com. Follow Tulsa Athletics on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TulsaHurricane and Facebook at www.facebook.com/TulsaHurricane. Follow Tulsa softball on Twitter (www.twitter.com/TulsaSoftball) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/utulsasoftball).
Tulsa 13, Southern Miss 8 (Mar 24, 2012 at Hattiesburg, Miss.) (Game 1) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tulsa............... 003 302 5 - 13 15 3 (20-6, 6-1 CUSA) Southern Miss....... 002 004 2 - 8 9 1 (10-15, 2-5 CUSA) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Tulsa - Creger, Aimee; SCHROCK, Kalynn(7) and Bowen, Cassidy. Southern Miss - LUCIANI, G. and SHER, M.. Win-CREGER, Aimee(10-2) Loss-LUCIANI, G.(2-4) T-2:30 A-400 Weather: Sunny, 75*
