Anderson Tosses Shutout and Bearpaw Drives Home Two in Tulsa Win

Saturday, March 16

Collins Family Softball Complex

2:00 p.m.

Tulsa

17-8, 4-1

South Florida

22-10, 2-3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
South Florida	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4
Tulsa	2	0	1	0	0	0	X	3	6	1

Anderson Tosses Shutout and Bearpaw Drives Home Two in Tulsa Win

3/16/2024 6:05:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

TULSA, Okla. – Freshman pitcher Anneca Anderson threw a one-hit shutout as the Golden Hurricane took down South Florida 3-0 in the game two of the weekend series on Saturday afternoon in the Collins Family Softball Complex.

Tulsa improves to 17-8 and 4-1 in The American Athletic Conference, while South Florida falls to 22-10 and 2-3 in The American.

Junior right fielder Kailyn Bearpaw supplied the only RBIs of the game with a single in the first and double in the third. From there, it was all Anderson (6-0). Despite a bit of a shaky first, she settled down to keep the Bulls off balance. She didn't overpower, only striking out three, but forced playable balls for the TU defense. A MacKenzie Denson sprinting catch in left field in the sixth nullified one of the hardest hit balls of the game.

Anderson's no-hit bid was ended with a double over the leaping glove of shortstop Imani Edwards with one out in the seventh. However, back-to-back strikeouts ended the game and the series at one apiece.

Payton Dixon (10-3) was tagged with the loss despite a strong pitching effort herself. She allowed just six hits and three runs, two earned, while striking out seven Hurricane. The Bulls defense was also responsible for four errors, which played a role in the ballgame.

Denson and Bearpaw each had a pair of hits on the afternoon with Bearpaw's double as Tulsa's lone extra-base hit. Imani Edwards singled and Abby Jones picked up a third inning hit and would come around to score.

TULSA 3, SOUTH FLORIDA 0
The Bulls started the game with a pair of walks and looked poised to strike. After a groundout moved the runners up, a walk loaded the bases. Where the Bulls were able to plate a couple yesterday, Anderson got a flyout to shallow right field and then caught a batter looking to escape the frame with no damage. From there, the Bulls wouldn't get another baserunner until a two-out error in the fourth, that was quickly erased on a popup to second.

The Golden Hurricane took advantage of its chances in the bottom of the inning. MacKenzie Denson singled and stole second after catching the South Florida pitcher out of position. On the next pitch, she took off for third, beating a retreating third baseman and causing a wild throw. Denson raced home to put TU ahead 1-0.

Not done, after a lineout to center, Imani Edwards walked and moved to second on a catcher's interference play that put Claira Skaggs on first. After a strikeout for the second of the inning, Bearpaw singled to left, bringing in Edwards from second and Tulsa went up 2-0.

The Hurricane added a final run in the third inning on a two-out rally. Senior Abby Jones got things started with a single up the middle. Bearpaw stepped in for the second time. The right fielder squared up on a pitch and lifted a high fly ball to left center. The left fielder leapt for ball but it went just over her glove and smashed off the wall. Jones was always running and scored easily from first on the play.

The Bulls had few opportunities to cut into Tulsa's lead. South Florida got a two-out walk in the sixth, followed by a line drive to left, one of its hardest hits of the games. Denson was on her horse immediately and made a sprinting grab as she hit the wall to end the danger and keep the no-hit attempt alive.

South Florida ended that bid in the top of the seventh with one out. A pinch-hit double from Sam Mallinder was the lone of the afternoon and immediately gave the visitors some life. However, Anderson struck out the next two batters to end the game.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
USF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4
Tulsa	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	6	0

GAME NOTES
» Tulsa improves to 17-8 on the season and 4-1 in The American.
» The Hurricane moves to 12-16 against the Bulls all-time.
» Anderson tossed her fourth complete game and first complete game shutout of her career.
» Bearpaw collected her sixth double of the season.
» MacKenzie Denson picked up her 37th and 38th hits of the season, which is top 20 in the nation.

Tulsa and South Florida play the rubber match of the series on Sunday in the Collins Family Softball Complex. First pitch is set for noon and will air on ESPN+.