Tulsa
North Texas
Tulsa Softball Starts 2022 Campaign in Louisiana
2/10/2022 7:52:00 PM | Softball
The Evangeline Bank and Trust Invitational I
GAME NOTES
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (0-0, 0-0)
Friday, Feb. 11 - Lake Charles, La.
vs North Texas Mean Green (0-0, 0-0) 1:00 PM
Saturday, Feb. 12 - Lake Charles, La.
vs UAB Blazers (0-0, 0-0) 1:00 PM
at McNeese State Cowgirls (0-0, 0-0) 3:30 PM
Sunday, Feb. 13 - Lafayette, La.
vs UAB Blazers (0-0, 0-0) 10:00 AM
at #23 Louisiana at Lafayette (0-0, 0-0) 12:00 PM
Lake Charles - Live Stream | Live Stats
at Lafayette - Live Stream | Live Stats (UAB) | Live Stats (ULL)
TULSA, Okla. –– The University of Tulsa softball team will start its 2022 campaign with a five-game slate at the Evangeline Bank and Trust Invitational in Lake Charles and Lafayette, La. this weekend.
The Hurricane finished the 2021 campaign with a 25-16 record, 15-8 in the American Athletic Conference. TU welcomes seven newcomers to replace the eight who departed.
"Every year is a new team," Tulsa head coach Crissy Strimple said. "For us this year, we brought in a lot of new faces to go along with our two lone seniors. We're excited to see them get on the field and compete."
Tulsa will start things with a game at 1 p.m. on Friday against North Texas in Lake Charles. The Hurricane will take on UAB and the hosts McNeese State on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. before heading to Lafeyette, La. for a rematch against the Blazers on Sunday at 10 a.m. The Hurricane finish the weekend against the other hosts, Louisiana, at noon.
It's a tough opening schedule for the Hurricane, facing off against two C-USA teams in North Texas and UAB who finished 38-12 and 31-19 respectively. McNeese State made a trip to an NCAA Regional after winning the Southland Conference, and the Cowgirls finished 35-25. Louisiana is a staple of the NCAA Tournament, making it every year since 1999 and finishing the season ranked in each of the past 14 seasons. The Ragin' Cajuns won their second consecutive Sun Belt title a year ago and finished 47-12, bowing out against No. 16 LSU in the final game of the regional championship.
"The first weekend, we have a lot of great competition against some postseason teams and teams who are competing at the top of their conference," Strimple said. "It will be a great challenge with some great hitting and great pitching."
Tulsa is a young team, with no juniors and only two seniors on the squad. Seven freshmen will play this season for TU. Callie Davis, Claira Skaggs, Celeste Wood, Danielle Burns and Kailyn Bearpaw will play in the field, while Makenzie Brown will provide a new face in the circle. Coach Strimple highlighted a few of the newcomers she thinks could have an immediate impact for the Hurricane.
"Claira Skaggs is someone who has come in and really established herself as our third baseman and someone who's going to hit in the middle of our lineup," Strimple said. "She's a hitter and she treats herself like a 3-4 hole and that's where she's going to start. We'll see how she does."
Bearpaw was another player coach Strimple mentioned, citing her ability to hit the ball well and play multiple positions. Bearpaw can play in the outfield and can also play multiple positions in the infield, making her a valuable asset. In the circle, Strimple mentioned Brown has an opportunity to prove herself.
"She has a real chance to establish herself right away and help the team from the circle," Strimple said. "She's someone who has had a ton of success throughout her high school and travel career. She's come in here and had some nice outings in the fall and in our scrimmages."
Returning underclassman for Tulsa are Abby Jones, Imani Edwards, Haley Morgan, Kennedy Kramer, Gracie Jarvis, Makayla Jackson, and Rylee Kieth in the field, and Kylee Nash and Sara Llamas-Howell in the circle.
Morgan started every game in center field as a second-year freshmen, batting second and averaging .311 with 17 RBIs. Edwards slotted into the shortstop position and hit .275 with 30 hits in 109 at-bats. She also lead the team with 10 steals. Cramer and Jarvis both were used as pinch runners, combining for 22 runs and 10 steals. In the Circle, Nash and Llamas-Howell were a combined 3-7 with 42 strikeouts.
Samantha Pochop and Kylie Norwood will serve as the veteran leadership for Tulsa. Norwood was a first team all-conference selection a year ago. The second baseman started every game for the Hurricane and batted a team-high .396 in the lead off position, the second-best average in The American. Pochop is coming back for her fifth season in the circle and has 78 appearances with 53 starts in her Tulsa career. The senior has 20 complete games, nine shutouts and seven saves to go along with 357 strikeouts for her career, including 95 in 2021.
Coach Strimple said one of the goals every year is for the team to send out the seniors on a great note, and it starts with week one.
"Sam and Kylie have been such great leaders and play a big part in what we do as a team," Strimple said. "Sam is important for us in the circle, and then Kylie brings us a lot vocally and defensively. And She can help us offensively with the type of hitter she is. We're excited to get those girls started and help them finish their careers on the right foot."
