Edwards’ Grand Slam Powers Tulsa to 4-2 Win Over Houston

Saturday, April 22

Houston, TX

2 PM

Tulsa

Houston

Photo by: Dave Crenshaw

Edwards’ Grand Slam Powers Tulsa to 4-2 Win Over Houston

4/22/2023 5:14:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score (PDF)

HOUSTON, Texas – Imani Edwards connected on a third inning grand slam and Kylee Nash threw a complete game as the Golden Hurricane clinched the series against Houston with a 4-2 win at Cougar Softball Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Tulsa improved to 19-23 and 5-6 in The American in 2023. Houston fell to 19-23 and are 6-5 in conference play. The Hurricane won its second conference series of the season after taking two of three against the Memphis Tigers in the conference opener.

Nash (8-11) tossed her sixth complete game of the season in the win. She gave the Houston batters fits, allowing only two runs on three hits while walking three and striking out seven. When Houston did score, she limited the damage and kept the hosts from getting any powerful contact on the day.

At the plate, Edwards' grand slam was the story of the day. She gave Tulsa all its four runs with the home run and now has five RBI for the weekend. MacKenzie Deson had a two-hit game, including a vital hit in the third inning to keep the frame alive for Edwards. Denson's elite slapping skills came into play as she hit the ball directly into the dirt, using her speed to make the play impossible for the defense.

Emma Vickrey's two-out single got Tulsa's rally started in the third and was the first hit of the game. Haley Morgan walked and came around to score and she also had a hit later in the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Neither team managed a hit until Vickrey singled up the middle with two outs in the top of the third, starting a Golden Hurricane rally. Morgan drew a walk and Denson slapped an infield single to load the bases. Edwards stepped up and cleared the bags with a grand slam to right center. Her second home run of the season was a line drive that got out in a hurry, matched only by her speed rounding the bases as Tulsa went up 4-0.

The Cougars got themselves on the board in the fourth inning. A leadoff walk and two ground outs put the first run 60 feet from home. Houston then picked up its first hit of the game with a hard-hit single up the middle to bring in the runner from third and cut the deficit to 4-1.

The Hurricane threatened to extend its lead in the top of the fifth. Morgan and Denson singled to lead off the inning. A strikeout and fielder's choice left runners on the corner with two outs and Claira Skaggs at the plate. The third baseman lifted a ball to shallow left that seemed destined to add runs, but the left fielder, Ja'Naiya Thomas, made a fantastic diving grab to rob Skaggs of a sure hit and at least one RBI.

Thomas led off the bottom of the fifth for Houston with an infield single. She never stopped running on a sacrifice bunt, passing second and sliding in safely at third with one out. The next batter hit a tough ball in the hole between short and third. Edwards made a nice play to keep it in the infield. She fired home but was not in time to catch Thomas and Tulsa's lead was 4-2.

From there, Nash didn't allow another Houston hit or runner. She got a ground out and strikeout to end the threat in the fifth. In the sixth she forced a ground out back to herself before striking out the next two. Tulsa set the Cougars down in order in the seventh as well to clinch the win and the series.

The Golden Hurricane will seek a series sweep on Sunday in the finale against the Cougars. First pitch is set for noon and will air on ESPN+.

GAME NOTES

» Tulsa outhit the Cougars 5-3 with the win and had a zero-error day in the field ... Houston had an error in the first on a dropped foul ball
» The win clinched Tulsa's second conference series of the season after winning 2-of-3 against Memphis at the start of AAC play.
» The grand slam off the bat of Imani Edwards extended her hitting streak to six
» It was the second home run of her season and first grand slam of her career
» This was the second start in a row with seven strikeouts for Kylee Nash, finishing one under her career high set against Texas Tech on Feb. 10.
» Of the seven strikeouts, three caught Houston batters looking.