Tulsa Falls in Pair of Saturday Games to #19/21 Wichita State

Friday, April 28

Collins Family Softball Complex

5 PM

Tulsa

20-24, 0

Wichita State

41-8, 0

Wichita State

Tulsa

Tulsa Falls in Pair of Saturday Games to #19/21 Wichita State

4/29/2023 8:13:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Completed game one that was suspended Friday evening

G1 Stats | G2 Stats

TULSA, Okla. – The University of Tulsa and No. 19/21 Wichita State met at the Collins Family Softball Complex Saturday afternoon to finish Friday's game and the scheduled second game of the series, with the Shockers prevailing 8-2 in the first game and 17-2 in a five-inning game two.

Play in Friday's opener was halted in the fifth inning with the teams deadlocked at two. Wichita State was up to bat with runners on first and second and nobody out when the rain made continuing play impossible. The game picked up from that moment when the teams returned to action on Saturday under a clear sky.

Tulsa fell to 20-25, 6-8 in The American with the pair of losses. Wichita State clinched the American Athletic Conference title for the second season in a row as the Shockers improved to 42-8 and 15-2 in league play.

Maura Moore (11-11) had the ball in the opening game that started on Friday. She tossed 5.2 innings ranging over the two days and allowed eight hits and eight runs, seven earned, while striking out six. Moore also tossed three shutout innings in relief of game two, striking out three.

Kylee Nash (9-12) got the start in game two and was tagged with the loss. She went an inning and allowed six runs on six hits. Riley Grant and Kaiya Luneckas also featured in game two, throwing a combined inning and allowing 11 runs. Grant pitched an inning and a third of shutout ball in relief at the end of the series opener.

Haley Morgan picked up her fifth home run of the season, tying Rylee Keith and Claira Skaggs for the team lead. She finished with three hits in five at-bats while also drawing a walk. MacKenzie Denson and Imani Edwards each had an RBI in the first game, while Denson finished with a pair of hits. Faith Russell had a nice day at the plate in game two, going 2-2 with a run scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED - Wichita State 8, Tulsa 2 (Game Started Friday)

The game started in overcast conditions as neither team got on the board early. Moore struck out four in the opening two innings, while three Tulsa batters were fanned in the same time frame.

Wichita State broke the deadlock in the third inning. The Shockers had a leadoff double and then an error on a bunt single brought in the game's first run. Later in the inning, the Shockers added a second run on a sacrifice fly.

Tulsa wasted little time getting back into the game. With one away, Morgan doubled off the wall in left, starting a chain of three consecutive two-baggers. Denson brought Morgan home with a double and Edwards followed suit with a double down the left field line to score Denson and tie the game at two.

The game remained tied until the top of the fifth inning. The rain, which started a little earlier, became worse. With radars showing the inclement weather to continue through the evening, the game was suspended with Shockers on first and second and nobody out.

Play resumed on Saturday and Wichita State was quickly back out front with a four-run fifth. A bunt single loaded the bags and a walk brought in what proved to be the game-deciding run. After a sacrifice fly brought in a run to make the score 4-2, a two-run error gave the Shockers a 6-2 lead.

Wichita State added a pair of runs in the sixth to close out the scoring.

HOW IT HAPPENED – Wichita State 17, Tulsa 2

Wichita State jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. The Shockers put up six in the opening frame, scoring three before the first out of the game. A two-run home run and two-RBI triple highlighted the inning.

WSU didn't slow down in the second, putting eight across home to take a 14-0 lead. The Shockers started the inning with a solo home run to center. Six of the runs scored came with two outs in the inning.

In the third, the visitors scored another three runs to go up 17-0. Moore entered the game with the score at 15-0, and though Wichita State scored two more runs, she pitched the remainder of the afternoon with no further damage.

Russell opened the bottom of the third with a single through the left side, ending a no-hit bid for the Shockers. Morgan would take care of the shutout two batters later as she lined a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left for Tulsa's lone two runs of the game. The game would end with the score remaining what it was after three, 17-2.

NOTES

» Imani Edwards' hitting streak ended at eight games, tying her season-best, after going hitless in game two ... the shortstop was hit by a pitch in the second game, extending her reached base streak to a season-high 18 games.
» Haley Morgan's third-inning home run gave Tulsa three batters with five home runs this season.
» The Hurricane was outhit 24-9 in the two games and committed five errors

Tulsa and Wichita State will meet one more time in the regular season with the finale on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN+. Sunday is Senior Day for the Golden Hurricane as Tulsa will honor the careers of graduating seniors Gracie Jarvis and Rylee Keith after tomorrow's game.

It's not the final home game for Tulsa this season as the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners will come to Collins Family Softball Complex Tuesday to make up the game rained out on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. and will air on ESPN+.