Wednesday, April 4
Stillwater, Okla.
6 PM
Tulsa
at
Oklahoma State
Photo by: Bill Powell
Tulsa Softball on the Road for Four Contests this Week
4/3/2018 4:05:00 PM | Softball
Weekly Notes
TULSA, Okla. — Fresh off a three-game sweep of ECU last weekend, The University of Tulsa softball team will take to the road for four games this week, beginning with a 6 p.m. matchup on Wednesday, April 4 at Oklahoma State.
The Golden Hurricane (22-14) evened its conference record at 3-3 with the sweep of the Pirates. Emily Watson powered the Hurricane with 15 scoreless innings in which she racked up 23 strikeouts, along with two wins and a save. For her efforts, Watson was named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week and American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week.
While the Cowgirls (25-10) have a lead in the all-time series, TU has won 11 of the last 12 meetings, including a 2-0 shutout on March 21 at Collins Family Softball Complex. Watson allowed just three hits and struck out 14 in that contest. Wednesday's game can be seen on FOX Sports Oklahoma.
Following its midweek game in Stillwater, TU will head north for a three-game conference set at Wichita State (21-12, 4-2). The Shockers sit one game ahead of the Hurricane in The American standings after sweeping UConn last weekend in Storrs, Conn.
It will be the first conference series between the programs since 1996, when both were members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
Weekly Schedule
Wednesday, April 4
6 p.m. at Oklahoma State — Stats/FOX Sports Oklahoma
Friday, April 6
6 p.m. at Wichita State — Stats/Video
Saturday, April 7
3 p.m. at Wichita State — Stats/Video
Sunday, April 8
12 p.m. at Wichita State — Stats/Video
Notes
Tulsa on the Road to Face Oklahoma State, Wichita State this Week
• Tulsa is on the road for four games this week, beginning with a matchup at Oklahoma State on April 4 before a three-game series at Wichita State (April 6-8).
• OSU leads the all-time series against TU, 27-20, but Tulsa has won 11 of the last 12 matchups. The Shockers lead the series against TU, 25-21.
• Tulsa and Wichita State will meet as conference foes for the first time since 1996, when the teams were members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
Trending
• Emily Watson leads The American and ranks 12th in the nation with 166 strikeouts this season. Watson has struck out at least 10 batters in a game nine times, including four of her last six starts, with a season-high 15 Ks against Saint Francis (Pa.).
• Watson is 3-1 with a 0.84 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 25 innings in four apperances against the Cowgirls.
• Tulsa has won 11 of the last 12 matchups with Oklahoma State, including a 2-0 win over the Cowgirls on March 21 at Collins Family Softball Complex. TU has won four of the five meetings in Stillwater during that stretch.
Havoc in the Heartland
• In August 2017, The University of Tulsa and Wichita State University announced the creation of a rivalry series that spans 13 varsity sports.
• Points are awarded for head-to-head regular-season victories in volleyball, basketball and softball or a higher finish at conference championships in cross country, tennis, track & field and women's golf. A trophy will be awarded to the school with the most points at the end of each Academic Year. The annual Graduation Success Rate will be used as a tiebreaker.
• The series is currently tied, with both programs having collected 18 points.
Ahead Early
• Tulsa has gotten off to a quick start with runs in the first inning in 18 of its 36 games.
• The Hurricane has outscored its opponents 32-9 in the first inning and has only allowed its opponent to score in the first inning of seven games during the campaign.
• TU has capitalized on the early lead this spring, going 13-5 when scoring in the first inning. The Hurricane also is 18-6 when the team scores first.
• The early run support has been a big part of the team's success as TU is 17-2 when leading after four innings, 16-1 when leading after five innings and 11-1 when leading after six innings.
Hurricane Honors in The American
• TU has had several student-athletes honored by the American Athletic Conference and NFCA via its weekly awards this season.
• Emily Watson has been named The American Pitcher of the Week three times this season (12 times in her career), including on April 2 after she went 2-0 with a save and 23 strikeouts in 15 innings during last weekend's sweep of ECU. The senior also earned Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week honors for her efforts against the Pirates.
• Hurricane hitters also have had success as Tori Stafford was named Player of the Week on March 19. Meanwhile, Shelby Estocado and Morgan Neal have been named to the conference's weekly honor roll this season, as well.
Career Numbers Update
• Emily Watson ranks in the program's all-time top 10 in several categories, including ERA (2nd, 1.70), opposing batting average (2nd, .203), strikeouts (2nd, 763), shutouts (2nd, 29), wins (t-2nd, 63), complete-games (4th, 61), games started (4th, 92), saves (6th, 5), innings pitched (6th, 582.0) and appearances (7th, 110).
• Shelby Estocado is tied for fourth in program history with 29 homers, including six round-trippers this season. She also ranks sixth with 117 RBIs and seventh with 300 total bases.
• Julia Hollingsworth currently owns the program-record with a .455 on-base percentage, while her career .362 batting average ranks second. She ranks sixth with 39 stolen bases and her six triples are tied for eighth. Hollingsworth tied a single-game record with a pair of triples in Tulsa's win over Nicholls State (March 3).
Look Who's Back
• Tulsa returns 13 letterwinners, including six position starters, the designated player and three pitchers, from last year's team which went 41-17 and won its first American Athletic Conference regular-season title with a 15-3 league mark.
• The TU offense will bring back all of its home runs, 79.3-percent of its extra-base hits, 76-percent of its runs scored, 74.3-percent of its RBIs and 71.1-percent of its hits from last year's squad.
• The lineup will see the return of NFCA All-Region picks Julia Hollingsworth (OF) and Haley Meinen (DP), while the pitching staff will see the return of second-team NFCA All-American Emily Watson.
It's Elementary, Watson
• The Golden Hurricane pitching staff is anchored by NFCA All-American Emily Watson. The senior nearly set a program single-season record with 348 strikeouts, while her 14 shutouts set a new program standard and led the nation last season.
• Watson also set single-season records with 30 wins, 36 starts, 29 complete games and 246.2 innings pitched.
• The senior was recently announced as one of 50 players across the nation on the "Watch List" for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award and she is one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award.
• So far in 2018, she has compiled an 13-6 record with a 1.53 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 123.2 innings pitched.
Tulsa Picked to Repeat as American Athletic Conference Champs
• Tulsa garnered six first-place votes and the squad was picked to repeat as American Athletic Conference champions by the league's coaches.
• TU earned 48 points in the poll, while Houston picked up a pair of first-place nods and 44 points to rank second.
• The duo was followed by USF, UCF, Wichita State, Memphis, UConn and ECU.
• Last season, TU won both the regular-season and tournament titles, sweeping those championships for the first time since 2014 when the Hurricane accomplished the feat in its final season as a member of Conference USA.
The Schedule
• Tulsa's 2018 schedule will see the team play 10 games against teams that participated in the NCAA Tournament a season ago.
• The schedule also will have the Hurricane matched-up with teams that started the season either ranked or receiving votes. Texas A&M is 12th in the NFCA Coaches Poll, while TU also will face defending national champion Oklahoma (April 17) and Oklahoma State (March 21, April 4).
• Meanwhile, McNeese State (Feb. 9-10), Texas State (Feb. 24) and St. Francis (Pa.) (March 17) also started the season receiving votes.
TU Success Under Coach Bargfeldt
• Now in his 13th season at Tulsa, head coach John Bargfeldt is the program's longest-tenured head coach and has the most wins and highest winning percentage in school history.
• Prior to Bargfeldt's arrival, the program had just four winning seasons in 13 years and did not win a conference title or appear in an NCAA Regional.
• Since his hiring prior to the 2006 season, the Golden Hurricane has had a winning record in all 12 campaigns with six regular-season and six conference tournament titles. In addition, TU has advanced to nine NCAA Regionals, including a spot in the postseason for six of the last seven years.
Up Next
• After its road games at No. 23/25 Oklahoma State and Wichita State, the Hurricane will return home for four straight home contests, beginning with a three-game series against USF (April 13-15) before a matchup with No. 2/3 Oklahoma on April 17.
TULSA, Okla. — Fresh off a three-game sweep of ECU last weekend, The University of Tulsa softball team will take to the road for four games this week, beginning with a 6 p.m. matchup on Wednesday, April 4 at Oklahoma State.
The Golden Hurricane (22-14) evened its conference record at 3-3 with the sweep of the Pirates. Emily Watson powered the Hurricane with 15 scoreless innings in which she racked up 23 strikeouts, along with two wins and a save. For her efforts, Watson was named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week and American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week.
While the Cowgirls (25-10) have a lead in the all-time series, TU has won 11 of the last 12 meetings, including a 2-0 shutout on March 21 at Collins Family Softball Complex. Watson allowed just three hits and struck out 14 in that contest. Wednesday's game can be seen on FOX Sports Oklahoma.
Following its midweek game in Stillwater, TU will head north for a three-game conference set at Wichita State (21-12, 4-2). The Shockers sit one game ahead of the Hurricane in The American standings after sweeping UConn last weekend in Storrs, Conn.
It will be the first conference series between the programs since 1996, when both were members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
Weekly Schedule
Wednesday, April 4
6 p.m. at Oklahoma State — Stats/FOX Sports Oklahoma
Friday, April 6
6 p.m. at Wichita State — Stats/Video
Saturday, April 7
3 p.m. at Wichita State — Stats/Video
Sunday, April 8
12 p.m. at Wichita State — Stats/Video
Notes
Tulsa on the Road to Face Oklahoma State, Wichita State this Week
• Tulsa is on the road for four games this week, beginning with a matchup at Oklahoma State on April 4 before a three-game series at Wichita State (April 6-8).
• OSU leads the all-time series against TU, 27-20, but Tulsa has won 11 of the last 12 matchups. The Shockers lead the series against TU, 25-21.
• Tulsa and Wichita State will meet as conference foes for the first time since 1996, when the teams were members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
Trending
• Emily Watson leads The American and ranks 12th in the nation with 166 strikeouts this season. Watson has struck out at least 10 batters in a game nine times, including four of her last six starts, with a season-high 15 Ks against Saint Francis (Pa.).
• Watson is 3-1 with a 0.84 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 25 innings in four apperances against the Cowgirls.
• Tulsa has won 11 of the last 12 matchups with Oklahoma State, including a 2-0 win over the Cowgirls on March 21 at Collins Family Softball Complex. TU has won four of the five meetings in Stillwater during that stretch.
Havoc in the Heartland
• In August 2017, The University of Tulsa and Wichita State University announced the creation of a rivalry series that spans 13 varsity sports.
• Points are awarded for head-to-head regular-season victories in volleyball, basketball and softball or a higher finish at conference championships in cross country, tennis, track & field and women's golf. A trophy will be awarded to the school with the most points at the end of each Academic Year. The annual Graduation Success Rate will be used as a tiebreaker.
• The series is currently tied, with both programs having collected 18 points.
Ahead Early
• Tulsa has gotten off to a quick start with runs in the first inning in 18 of its 36 games.
• The Hurricane has outscored its opponents 32-9 in the first inning and has only allowed its opponent to score in the first inning of seven games during the campaign.
• TU has capitalized on the early lead this spring, going 13-5 when scoring in the first inning. The Hurricane also is 18-6 when the team scores first.
• The early run support has been a big part of the team's success as TU is 17-2 when leading after four innings, 16-1 when leading after five innings and 11-1 when leading after six innings.
Hurricane Honors in The American
• TU has had several student-athletes honored by the American Athletic Conference and NFCA via its weekly awards this season.
• Emily Watson has been named The American Pitcher of the Week three times this season (12 times in her career), including on April 2 after she went 2-0 with a save and 23 strikeouts in 15 innings during last weekend's sweep of ECU. The senior also earned Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week honors for her efforts against the Pirates.
• Hurricane hitters also have had success as Tori Stafford was named Player of the Week on March 19. Meanwhile, Shelby Estocado and Morgan Neal have been named to the conference's weekly honor roll this season, as well.
Career Numbers Update
• Emily Watson ranks in the program's all-time top 10 in several categories, including ERA (2nd, 1.70), opposing batting average (2nd, .203), strikeouts (2nd, 763), shutouts (2nd, 29), wins (t-2nd, 63), complete-games (4th, 61), games started (4th, 92), saves (6th, 5), innings pitched (6th, 582.0) and appearances (7th, 110).
• Shelby Estocado is tied for fourth in program history with 29 homers, including six round-trippers this season. She also ranks sixth with 117 RBIs and seventh with 300 total bases.
• Julia Hollingsworth currently owns the program-record with a .455 on-base percentage, while her career .362 batting average ranks second. She ranks sixth with 39 stolen bases and her six triples are tied for eighth. Hollingsworth tied a single-game record with a pair of triples in Tulsa's win over Nicholls State (March 3).
Look Who's Back
• Tulsa returns 13 letterwinners, including six position starters, the designated player and three pitchers, from last year's team which went 41-17 and won its first American Athletic Conference regular-season title with a 15-3 league mark.
• The TU offense will bring back all of its home runs, 79.3-percent of its extra-base hits, 76-percent of its runs scored, 74.3-percent of its RBIs and 71.1-percent of its hits from last year's squad.
• The lineup will see the return of NFCA All-Region picks Julia Hollingsworth (OF) and Haley Meinen (DP), while the pitching staff will see the return of second-team NFCA All-American Emily Watson.
It's Elementary, Watson
• The Golden Hurricane pitching staff is anchored by NFCA All-American Emily Watson. The senior nearly set a program single-season record with 348 strikeouts, while her 14 shutouts set a new program standard and led the nation last season.
• Watson also set single-season records with 30 wins, 36 starts, 29 complete games and 246.2 innings pitched.
• The senior was recently announced as one of 50 players across the nation on the "Watch List" for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award and she is one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award.
• So far in 2018, she has compiled an 13-6 record with a 1.53 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 123.2 innings pitched.
Tulsa Picked to Repeat as American Athletic Conference Champs
• Tulsa garnered six first-place votes and the squad was picked to repeat as American Athletic Conference champions by the league's coaches.
• TU earned 48 points in the poll, while Houston picked up a pair of first-place nods and 44 points to rank second.
• The duo was followed by USF, UCF, Wichita State, Memphis, UConn and ECU.
• Last season, TU won both the regular-season and tournament titles, sweeping those championships for the first time since 2014 when the Hurricane accomplished the feat in its final season as a member of Conference USA.
The Schedule
• Tulsa's 2018 schedule will see the team play 10 games against teams that participated in the NCAA Tournament a season ago.
• The schedule also will have the Hurricane matched-up with teams that started the season either ranked or receiving votes. Texas A&M is 12th in the NFCA Coaches Poll, while TU also will face defending national champion Oklahoma (April 17) and Oklahoma State (March 21, April 4).
• Meanwhile, McNeese State (Feb. 9-10), Texas State (Feb. 24) and St. Francis (Pa.) (March 17) also started the season receiving votes.
TU Success Under Coach Bargfeldt
• Now in his 13th season at Tulsa, head coach John Bargfeldt is the program's longest-tenured head coach and has the most wins and highest winning percentage in school history.
• Prior to Bargfeldt's arrival, the program had just four winning seasons in 13 years and did not win a conference title or appear in an NCAA Regional.
• Since his hiring prior to the 2006 season, the Golden Hurricane has had a winning record in all 12 campaigns with six regular-season and six conference tournament titles. In addition, TU has advanced to nine NCAA Regionals, including a spot in the postseason for six of the last seven years.
Up Next
• After its road games at No. 23/25 Oklahoma State and Wichita State, the Hurricane will return home for four straight home contests, beginning with a three-game series against USF (April 13-15) before a matchup with No. 2/3 Oklahoma on April 17.
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Players Mentioned
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