Softball Grabs Two Run Rule Victories Saturday

Saturday, March 19

Lawrence, Kan.

10 a.m.

Tulsa

19-5

Minnesota

17-9

Tulsa

Minnesota

Softball Grabs Two Run Rule Victories Saturday

3/19/2016 8:37:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Eric Hollier

Box Score vs Minnesota | Box Score vs UMKC

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Tulsa Softball team won twice Saturday by a combined 20-1 score, defeating No. 22 Minnesota, 10-1 (5 inn.), and UMKC, 10-0 (5 inn.), at the Rock Chalk Classic at Arrocha Ballpark.

Freshman designated player Julia Hollingsworth totaled four RBI, and senior center fielder Jodi Edmiston and junior left fielder Maddie Withee each tallied three RBI to lead the Golden Hurricane. TU improved to 20-5 with its fourth victory over a ranked opponent this season, and its second over Minnesota (18-9) this week.

Sophomore Emily Watson (7-4) struck out eight and allowed four hits in the five-inning complete game victory over Minnesota. Edmiston hit a three-run triple as part of a five-run first inning, and Hollingsworth went 2-for-2 with three RBI in the game. Junior third baseman Maggie Withee went 3-for-4 in the game, with an RBI and a run. The Hurricane also put up five runs in the third inning.

Against UMKC, senior Caitlin Sill (10-1) struck out seven in a three-hit shutout. Maddie Withee drove in three runs, and Maggie Withee and freshman second baseman Morgan Neal each scored two runs. TU scored twice each in the first and third innings, one run in the second, and five runs in the fourth inning.

"We played really well in very tough, cold conditions," Tulsa Head Coach John Bargfeldt said. "I was very proud of the way they came out and took on the conditions and the teams that we played, and really excelled in all phases of the game. Our pitchers really didn't get into a whole lot of trouble. It was a combination of missing bats and giving up very few hits. The thing that doesn't go lost, is in very cold weather, we didn't walk very many. They did an excellent job as well."

The games were played in wintery conditions Saturday, with temperatures in the 40s for most of the day. The games scheduled for Friday were canceled due to snow and rain. Tulsa pitchers allowed a total of four walks in the two games. The TU offense scored 20 runs on 19 hits.

"It's been fun watching throughout the lineup," Bargfedt said. "I can't really point out one person, because there were so many that had good at bats. Up and down the lineup, scoring from different parts of the lineup, being aggressive on the bases, coming up with key hits or getting key walks to keep the line moving, that's kind of what we did today."

Tulsa loaded the bases in the first inning against Minnesota, beginning with singles by Maggie Withee and Neal. Senior catcher Catherine Horner drew a one-out walk, and with two out Hollingsworth drew an RBI base on balls. Edmiston then drove a three-run triple to right center field. Senior right fielder Kaitlin Allen added an RBI single to right field, making the score 5-0.

In the third inning, Hollingsworth hit a two-run single, driving home Horner and sophomore shortstop Shelby Estocado. After Edmiston walked, senior first baseman Jocelyn Sheffield hit a one-out single to score Hollingsworth. Maggie Withee followed with a double to left center that plated Edmiston, and Horner hit a two-out single to left field to score Sheffield, and make it a 10-0 game.

The lone Minnesota run came on a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning by right fielder Sydney Fabian. The homer led off the frame, and Watson then retired nine of the last 12 batters she faced to conclude the game.

The Hurricane scored two runs in the top of the first inning against UMKC (7-13) on a pair of sacrifice flies by Maddie Withee and Horner. Maggie Withee led off the inning with a double, and Neal drew a walk to reach base. In the second inning, Edmiston drew a one-out walk, and then scored on Sheffield's base hit to center field.

TU scored a pair of runs in the third when Hollingsworth tripled home Estocado, and scored on an error by the left fielder on the play.

Sill, meanwhile, allowed two singles and a double, and two walks, but no baserunner advanced past second base.

Tulsa put up a five-spot in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend its lead to 10-0. The Hurricane began the inning with three straight walks to Sheffield, Maggie Withee and Neal. Maddie Withee then hit a two-run single to center field, and Horner walked, followed by a sacrifice fly by Estocado. Hollingsworth and pinch hitter Lauren Lomax hit RBI singles to drive home the final two runs.

The Golden Hurricane concludes the weekend against Saint Louis at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

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.

Tulsa 10, Minnesota 1 (Mar 19, 2016 at Lawrence, Kansas)
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Tulsa............... 505 00 - 10 12 0      (19-5)
Minnesota........... 001 00 - 1 4 0      (17-9)
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Pitchers: Tulsa - WATSON, Emily and HORNER, Catherine. Minnesota - Stober; Anderson(3) and LeMay
.
Win-WATSON, Emily(7-4) Loss-Stober(2-3) T-1:50 A-0
HR MINN - Fabian (2).
Stober faced 4 batters in the 3rd.

Tulsa 10, UMKC 0 (Mar 19, 2016 at Lawrence, Kansas)
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UMKC................ 000 00 - 0 3 2      (7-13)
Tulsa............... 212 5X - 10 7 0      (20-5)
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Pitchers: UMKC - Grove, A.; Flaws, K.(4) and Volle, K.. Tulsa - SILL, Caitlin and
HORNER, Catherine.
Win-SILL, Caitlin(10-1) Loss-Grove, A.(5-5) T-1:36 A-0
Grove, A. faced 3 batters in the 4th.