Tulsa
Houston
Softball Splits Doubleheader with Houston
4/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 21, 2012
Box Score |
Box Score 
TULSA, Okla. - Big innings made the difference on both ends of Saturday's doubleheader, as Tulsa won game one, 3-2, and Houston took game two, 5-2 Saturday at the Collins Family Softball Complex.
In game one, the Golden Hurricane (31-11, 13-4 C-USA) used a three-run third inning to overtake the Cougars and held on for the 3-2 win. UH (27-17, 12-5 C-USA) scored four runs in the third inning of game two to pull away from a 1-1 tie and went on to win, 5-2.
The series rubber game will be played at noon Sunday. Live video and live stats will be available on www.TulsaHurricane.com.
Junior Lacey Middlebrooks (14-4) earned the win for Tulsa in game one, which aired on Fox Sports Network, pitching a complete game and allowing five hits and two earned runs. Senior second baseman Skylar Swanson picked up both of Tulsa's RBI in the game.
"I didn't think Lacey necessarily had her best stuff today, but I thought it was a gutsy performance by her," Tulsa Head Coach John Bargfeldt said. "She battled and moved the ball around a little more to attack some areas with better location. They key was after getting down, we took advantage of a mistake that they made and kind of did what they did to us in the second game. We put up a three spot and they put up a four spot. That ended up being the difference in both games."
Houston took the lead in the first inning with three straight singles. Tulsa was able to minimize the damage, however, with some spectacular defensive plays. Third baseman Holly Anderson, center fielder Ashleigh Jones and left fielder Melissa Gregson singled to start off the game. Anderson and Jones advanced to second and third on a double steal.
Gregson's base hit went into center field, scoring Anderson, but TU center fielder Caitlin Everett came up throwing a strike to catcher Cassidy Bowen at the plate to nail the speedy Jones trying to score from second. The next batter, catcher Haley Outon, hit a fly ball to the gap in right center, but senior right fielder Jessica Stoelke laid out at full speed to make the diving catch for the second out. A ground ball to second squelched any further threat.
"We needed to minimize that inning," said Bargfeldt. "We had two outstanding plays defensively, throwing the runner out at the plate, and also the diving catch in right field by Jessica. That just kept the game close for us, so it didn't feel like we were in such a big hole. That was obviously very important. I honestly didn't think three runs were going to be enough, but Lacey made it stand up."
The Golden Hurricane scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the third inning, taking advantage of three hits and an error. Bowen led off with a walk, followed by a bunt single by left fielder Cierra Hughes and a single by Everett. Bowen was thrown out trying to score on Everett's base hit, but Cobb reached on a fielding error at short, allowing Hughes to score. Swanson then came up with a towering double to the fence in right center, plating Everett and Cobb to give TU a 3-1 lead.
Houston closed the gap to one run when Outon homered to left field to lead off the fourth inning. After a pair of walks, Middlebrooks rebounded to retire the side and prevent any more damage.
The TU defense held strong in the final three frames, facing a runner at third base in the sixth inning and runners at second and third in the seventh. UH right fielder Reina Gaber singled to lead off the sixth, moved to second on a wild pitch and was sacrificed to third. Bowen and Cobb teamed up to catcher Gaber stealing on a failed squeeze attempt for the second out, and a pop up ended the inning.
Houston got a pair of one-out walks in the seventh, but consecutive ground outs sealed the victory for the Hurricane.
Barrett had a hit in game one and two base knocks in game two to extend her school-record hitting streak to 23 games.
Houston 5, Tulsa 2
Houston scored four runs in the third inning to take a 5-1 lead and held on to win game two, 5-2.
Caitlin Everett, Jill Barrett and Shelby Blanton led TU with two hits apiece.
Click here for the full recap.
Tickets to TU home softball games are $5.00 general admission and can be purchased at the gate. Youth softball girls are admitted FREE when wearing their team jersey/uniform.
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 3, Houston 2 (Apr 21, 2012 at Tulsa, Okla.) (Game 1) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Houston............. 100 100 0 - 2 5 1 (26-17, 11-5) Tulsa............... 003 000 X - 3 5 1 (31-10, 13-3) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Houston - Watts,Bailey and Outon,Haley. Tulsa - Middlebrooks, Lacey and Bowen, Cassidy . Win-MIDDLEBROOKS, Lacey(14-4) Loss-Watts,Bailey(10-7) T-1:53 A-0 HR HOU - Outon,Haley (13). Weather: 68 Sunny, Wind NNW @ 4 mph
