Golden Hurricane Takes Series with 6-2 Win Over South Florida on Sunday

Sunday, March 17

Collins Family Softball Complex

12:00 p.m.

Tulsa

18-8, 5-1

South Florida

22-11, 2-4

South Florida

Tulsa

Photo by: Bill Powell

Golden Hurricane Takes Series with 6-2 Win Over South Florida on Sunday

3/17/2024 5:01:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

TULSA, Okla. – Kylee Nash kept the South Florida Bulls off balance and the Golden Hurricane backed her up with run support as the University of Tulsa softball team won 6-2 in the Collins Family Softball Complex on Sunday afternoon.

Tulsa improves to 18-8 and 5-1 in The American Athletic Conference, while South Florida falls to 22-11 and 2-4 in The American. The Hurricane won the weekend series 2-1, the first series win against South Florida since taking two of three in 2019.

Nash (5-2) got the start and tossed a complete game five-hitter, allowing just two runs and striking out a pair. The senior gave up a run in the fourth and seventh inning, with three of South Florida's five hits coming in the final two innings.

A trio of pitchers featured for South Florida, led by Belle Sardja (9-5) who started and took the loss. She thew an inning and two-thirds, getting tagged for three runs on five hits with a strikeout. Lexie Kopko went 2.2 innings and was responsible for seven hits and three runs, while Julia Apostolakos allowed a hit in her inning and two-thirds.

Kailyn Bearpaw continued her strong weekend with a two-hit Sunday and a walk. She led off the bottom of the fifth with her third home run of the season, a monster solo shot that fell near the scoreboard. Bearpaw came around to score twice. Catcher Maci Cole went 3-for-4 with a triple, RBI and two runs. Haley Morgan drove in a run on one of her two hits, and Abby Jones picked up a double and run during her two-hit day. The team's batting leader, MacKenzie Denson, made her one hit count, driving in two with a liner to right.

TULSA 6, SOUTH FLORIDA 2
Tulsa opened the scoring with a three-spot in the bottom of the second. Abby Jones doubled to lead things off, and then moved to third on a single from Kailyn Bearpaw. Maci Cole knocked in Jones with a single to left to give TU the 1-0 lead. A fielding error loaded the bases for MacKenzie Denson. The left fielder hit a soft liner over the second baseman, bringing Bearpaw and Cole in as Tulsa went ahead 3-0.

A pair of walks got Tulsa in trouble in the top of the fourth. Nash put two on for free with one out before a fielder's choice moved both into scoring position with the second out. The next Bull hit a line drive to center that was diving down quickly. Morgan raced in and dove for it, but just came up short of making the grab. However, she managed to keep the ball in front of her and limited the damage to one run. A groundout to second prevented further runs and Tulsa still led 3-1.

Kennedy Cramer singled to lead off the bottom of the frame and then stole second on a strikeout. Morgan then singled through the left side to bring Cramer home, just sliding under a tag that beat her to the plate as Tulsa reestablished a three-run lead, 4-1. On another single, Morgan was thrown out at the plate trying to head home.

Bearpaw pushed Tulsa's lead to four in the bottom of the fifth as she hammered the first pitch of the inning to left-center for a home run. Cole almost replicated her feat as the catcher lifted a 2-2 pitch to center field that kept carrying until it hit off the wall, evading the glove of a leaping center fielder. Celeste Wood brought her home with a ground out and Tulsa took a 6-1 lead into the sixth.

Both teams were kept off the board in the sixth, but each had a chance. For the Bulls, a great play from Imani Edwards at short to fire over and beat the runner at first kept at least one run from scoring. In the bottom of the frame, the Hurricane loaded the bases, but could not convert.

South Florida didn't stop fighting, though. The Bulls got a runner on thanks to an error with one out in the seventh. After a groundout advanced the runner, a two-out double brought in the second run of the game. A sharply hit liner found its way through the infield for a single and the Bulls had runners on the corners only down four. But Nash got a groundout to second to end the game and secure the win.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
USF	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	5	2
Tulsa	0	3	0	1	2	0	X	6	13	1

GAME NOTES
» Tulsa improves to 18-8 on the season and 5-1 in The American.
» The Hurricane moves to 13-16 against the Bulls all-time.
» This was Tulsa's first series win against South Florida since 2019.
» Nash tossed her second complete game of the season.
» Bearpaw hit her third home run of the 2024 campaign.
» Maci Cole tripled for the second time this season.
» Abby Jones collected her 10^th double, tying Claira Skaggs for most on the team.

The Golden Hurricane will play a pair of midweek games in the Collins Family Softball Complex, with the No. 4 Oklahoma State Cowgirls on Tuesday afternoon and Central Arkansas the following night. The game against OSU is sold out. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. and will air on ESPN+.