Golden Hurricane Splits Final Day of Rock Chalk Challenge

Sunday, March 20

Lawrence, KS

12:30 PM

Tulsa

10-17

Nebraska

19-9

Tulsa

Nebraska

Golden Hurricane Splits Final Day of Rock Chalk Challenge

3/20/2022 10:10:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Gamebook vs. Nebraska (PDF) | Gamebook at Kansas (PDF)

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Tulsa softball team took one of two in the final day of the Rock Chalk Challenge in Lawrence, Kan. on Sunday afternoon. The Golden Hurricane fell to Nebraska 3-0 in the opening game before taking the finale 3-2 over Kansas.

Tulsa finished the weekend 2-0 against the Jayhawks and 0-2 versus Nebraska. Tulsa wraps up the nonconference tournament season with an 11-17 record. Nebraska finished the weekend 19-9 after winning each of its four games, while Kansas fell to 10-15 after Tulsa beat them in the finale.

Game 1

Tulsa left six runners on base but were unable to score any runs in a 3-0 loss to Nebraska in the Golden Hurricane's first game of the day.

Each team had five hits, but Tulsa committed two errors and walked five batters, which contributed to Nebraska's ability to get scoring opportunities. TU also hit into two double players which cut short promising opportunities.

Makenzie Brown (2-4) took the loss. She threw 4.0 innings and was credited with two runs, one of which was earned. Brown walked five and had no strikeouts. Kylee Nash came on to pitch the other two innings, allowing one run on two hits and recording a pair of strikeouts.

Neither team scored in the opening three frames. Tulsa picked up its first hit in the top of the fourth with a leadoff single from Celeste Wood. Another single put runners on the corner, but Tulsa lined into a double play, which killed the threat.

Nebraska took the lead in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a throwing error, allowing a run to score on a fielder's choice. A solo home run in the fifth extended Nebraska's lead to 2-0.

The Hurricane got runners on first and third again in the sixth inning with one down, but a 4-6-3 double play cut the inning short. Nebraska recorded its third and final run in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back doubles to lead the inning.

Game 2

Tulsa's three runs in the first two innings was enough to defeat the Kansas Jayhawks 3-2 in the final game of the Rock Chalk Challenge on Sunday afternoon.

Celeste Wood recorded her first home run of the season, a two-run blast in the first inning to help lead the team. Kylie Norwood finished 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI as well.

Samantha Pochop (6-7) threw a complete game, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits and eight strikeouts. The Hurricane outhit the Jayhawks 8-5, committed one error to Kansas' zero and left eight runners on base to the Jayhawk's three.

Norwood picked up Tulsa's first hit with a one-out single in the first, setting up the two-run homer from Wood. Pochop set the Jayhawks down in order in the bottom of the frame, something she did five times, including the final four innings.

Tulsa added two its lead in the second inning. Back-to-back singles was a promising start, but the next two batters were retired. Haley Morgan drew a walk to load the bases, and then Norwood singled again, bringing in a run.

Kansas scored its only two runs in the third inning, picking up four of its five hits as well, all with two outs after consecutive strikeouts. Kansas singled, and then a double with an error brought in a run to make it 3-1. Another single drove a run in to cut the deficit to 3-2, but the Jayhawks would score no more. In fact, Pochop would not allow another baserunner the rest of the way, closing the Jayhawks by striking out the side in the seventh.

The Golden Hurricane do not have a midweek game upcoming as Tulsa prepares for the conference slate. Tulsa will host the Houston Cougars for the first American Athletic Conference games of the season. First pitch for game one is set for 5 p.m. on Friday afternoon and all games will air on ESPN+.