Golden Hurricane Battles Back to Sink Pirates 6-3

Saturday, May 6

Greenville, NC

1 PM

Tulsa

22-27, 8-9

East Carolina

27-26, 3-14

Tulsa

East Carolina

Photo by: Dave Crenshaw

Golden Hurricane Battles Back to Sink Pirates 6-3

5/6/2023 5:28:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score (PDF)

GREENVILLE, N.C. – After coming back to tie the game twice, the University of Tulsa softball team took the lead for good on a two-run home run off the bat of Haley Morgan in the seventh inning of a 6-3 win over East Carolina Saturday afternoon at the Max R. Joyner Family Stadium.

Tulsa improves to 22-27, 8-9 in The American with the win, while the loss drops ECU to 27-26 overall and 3-14 in conference play.

The Hurricane tied the game at two in the third inning and then a solo home run from Kailyn Bearpaw brought the teams level again in the sixth. Morgan's home run put Tulsa ahead 5-3 before Bearpaw doubled in another run to secure the win.

Kylee Nash (10-13) had the start and recorded the win, tossing her seventh complete game of the season. The junior hurler allowed just five hits over seven innings of action, giving up three runs, two earned, with five strikeouts.

Morgan hit her seventh homer of the season and scored twice on the afternoon. MacKenzie Denson, Imani Edwards and Bearpaw each had a multi-hit game. Edwards and Bearpaw both had two RBI in the win. Nash also had a double at the plate.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Pirates struck first in this ballgame. ECU wasted a one-out double in the first but was able to take advantage of a leadoff runner in the second thanks to a hit-by-pitch. With two outs and runners on first and second, a single to left brought in the game's first run. Tulsa looked as if it might escape the inning with no further damage, but a throwing error on a ground ball allowed another run, giving the Pirates a 2-0 advantage.

In the top of the third inning, TU responded with a two-out rally. Morgan was hit by a pitch and then promptly stole second base. Denson laid down a bunt for an infield single, putting runners on the corner for Edwards. She picked up both her RBI with a double down the left field line that bounced away from the diving left fielder.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the fourth. Once again, it was two-out hitting that benefitted ECU. The Pirates had a runner on second with two away before a double to left brought in the runer as East Carolina retook the lead 3-2.

After the Hurricane went down in order in the fifth, ECU had a great opportunity to take control of the game. A leadoff double and a stolen base had an insurance run 60 feet away with nobody out. Nash struck out a batter for the first out. After a walk, she fanned back-to-back batters to strike out the side and escape with no damage.

Bearpaw rewarded the Tulsa pitcher with a solo home run to lead off the sixth, tying the game at 3. The next three Tulsa batters were retired. Nash came back out and set ECU down in order in the sixth to send the game to the final frame with the teams even at 3-3.

Emma Vickrey got on base with a one-out walk. Tara Hall pinch ran for the Tulsa first baseman. Morgan took an 0-1 pitch that was up in the zone and deposited it over the center field wall to give Tulsa the 5-3 lead. The Hurricane wasn't done yet. Denson and Edwards both singled and Bearpaw doubled, scoring one and giving Tulsa a 6-3 advantage.

NOTES

» Tulsa improves to 39-13 against ECU and 19-9 in road games against the Pirates.
» Imani Edwards picked up her 15th multi-hit game of the season, which places her second on the team behind Haley Morgan's 17.
» Morgan picked up her 10th multi-RBI game ... Bearpaw recorded her seventh and Edwards, her fifth.
» Tulsa outhit the Pirates 8-5 but committed two errors to ECU's one.
» TU collected five extra-base hits in today's contest, one behind Friday's six.

Tulsa and ECU will meet one last time on Sudnay morning. First pitch time is set for 10 a.m. (CT) and will air on ESPN+. The Pirates will celebrate Senior Day prior to the start of the contest.