Golden Hurricane Homers Four Times in 14-5 Win at Wichita State

Sunday, April 7

Wichita, Kan.

12:00 p.m.

Tulsa

25-12, 0

Wichita State

18-14, 0

Tulsa

Wichita State

Golden Hurricane Homers Four Times in 14-5 Win at Wichita State

4/7/2024 4:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

WICHITA, Kan. – Maci Cole, Claira Skaggs, Kailyn Bearpaw and Abby Jones all homered as the University of Tulsa clinched another American Athletic Conference series with a 14-5 victory over Wichita State on Sunday afternoon inside Wilkins Stadium.

Tulsa (25-12, 10-5 The American) took the lead in the third inning and never looked back, scoring in each of the final five frame. The Shockers (18-14, 9-6 The American) took the lead with two runs in the second but scored just three more times the rest of the way.

Cole's three-run homer in the third inning put Tulsa ahead for good. Skaggs hit a two-run shot in the fourth that just stayed inside the foul pole. Bearpaw smashed a monster leadoff home run in the fifth that hit high on the flagpole in left center. Jones completed the TU home run cycle with a grand slam in the seventh inning to cap a six-run frame.

Skaggs and Jones each finished the game with four RBIs. Skaggs also posted a double. Cole drove in three and had a three-hit game. Five Tulsa players had multiple hits on Sunday, with Celeste Wood joining the four home run hitters. She finished 2-for-2 with a double and two walks.

Kylee Nash (9-2) pitched 4.0 innings in relief and got the win, her second of the weekend. The senior allowed five hits and only two runs, a seventh inning home run with the game all but decided. Maura Moore had the start and pitched the first 3.0 innings. She allowed three runs on five hits and struck out a pair.

TULSA 14, WICHITA STATE 5
Each team threatened in the first inning. Tulsa had runners on the corners with one out thanks to a pair of walks and a wild pitch but did not manage to bring anyone home. The Shockers put two on with base hits, but Maura Moore stranded both with a strikeout.

After Tulsa failed to capitalize on a couple of two-out walks in the second, Wichita State struck in the bottom of the frame. Caroline Tallent was hit by a pitch and was subsequently moved to second with a sacrifice bunt. A single to right put runners on the corner Krystin Nelson, who doubled down the right field line, scoring two.

TU would score at least one run in each of the remaining innings. In the third, Claira Skaggs doubled to center with Imani Edwards on second, scoring Tulsa's first run. Abby Jones singled Skaggs to third to put runners on the corner. Catcher Maci Cole then put Tulsa ahead 4-2 with a three-run home run to right center.

The Hurricane kept it rolling in the fourth following an Addison Barnard home run in the bottom of the third for Wichita State. Haley Morgan reached on a fielder's choice and stole second, but she got the easy trot to home as Claira Skaggs lifted a high pitch down the right field line and over the wall. It stayed just inside the foul pole to give Tulsa a 6-2 lead.

Kailyn Bearpaw made it 7-2 with a towering shot to lead off the seventh. The Tulsa right fielder crushed a pitch to left center, hitting more than midway up the flagpole. The Hurricane added an eighth run in the sixth. Abby Jones was standing on first and a base hit from Maci Cole through the right side moved her to third. The right fielder booted the ball away, allowing Jones to come in to score.

Tulsa saved the best for last with a six-run seventh inning. A fielding error with the bags loaded brought in one run, and then Skaggs drew a walk to give Tulsa the 10-3 lead. The highlight of the frame was Jones' following with a grand slam into the bleachers over the wall in right, capping the inning for the Hurricane.

Wichita State added a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. A leadoff double was rewarded by Barnard's second long ball of the game to cut the Tulsa lead to 14-5, which would remain the final.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Tulsa	0	0	4	2	1	1	6	14	14	0
WSU	0	2	1	0	0	0	2	5	10	2

» Tulsa improves to 25-12 on the season and 10-5 in The American play.
» TU moves to 30-38 against the Shockers.
» Kylee Nash improves to 9-2 on the season.
» Four home runs is the most by the Hurricane this season.
» Abby Jones hit her fourth home run of the season.
» Kailyn Bearpaw homered for the fifth time.
» Maci Cole and Claira Skaggs each hit their third home run of the year.
» Cole had three hits and three RBI in the win.
» Jones and Skaggs each drove in four runs.
» Skaggs doubled for the 14^th time this year.
» Celeste Wood collected her ninth double.
» Seven different Hurricane combined to walk nine times, a season high.

Next up for the Golden Hurricane is a rematch with the Oklahoma State Cowgirls. Tulsa will head to Stillwater for a Wednesday evening showdown. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and will air on ESPN+.