Hurricane Splits Day One of I-10 Border Classic

Friday, February 14

Beaumont, Texas

1:00 p.m.

Tulsa

4-2

Nicholls

2-4

Nicholls

Tulsa

Hurricane Splits Day One of I-10 Border Classic

2/14/2025 6:56:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BEAUMONT, Texas – The University of Tulsa started the weekend strong with a 6-1 win over Nicholls, but the bats cooled off in a 6-0 afternoon loss to Missouri State in the first day of the I-10 Border Classic on the campus of Lamar.

Tulsa moves to 4-3 on the season after splitting the two games. Nicholls fell to 2-4 after losing to Tulsa, while Missouri State picked up its first win of the game and is 1-5.

Maura Moore (3-1) grabbed the win in the day's opener, spreading six hits across a complete game, one-run performance. She struck out three and walked one. Brinly Maples (1-2), went an inning and a third in the loss to Missouri State, allowing five runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout. Alexa Hopkins tossed the other 4.2 innings and allowed five hits but just one run, unearned.

HOW IT HAPPENED – Game One
The Hurricane jumped ahead early with a four-run first inning. Walks to Russell and Skaggs and a Maci Cole hit by pitch loaded the bases for Wood. She delivered a triple to right field, scoring everyone on base. A wild pitch brought Wood home for the game's fourth run.

Nicholls got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. A walk and two singles loaded the bases with nobody out. The next batter sacrificed to center for a run to cut the deficit to 4-1. Amber Turner at catcher and Faith Russell combined to catch a runner attempt to steal second, and then a flyout to left ended the threat with no further damage.

TU added two more in the bottom of the frame. Russell led the inning with a walk. An Annika Dill single moved her to second, and a one-out walk to Cole loaded the bases. Another wild pitch scored Russell, and then Wood hit into a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Dill.

That would be enough for the win as the Hurricane took care of Nicholls, 6-1.

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

HOW IT HAPPENED – Game Two
A long, five-run second inning made the difference in game two. A pair of singles and a sacrifice bunt had two in scoring position with one out. Tulsa chose to come home on a ball hit to the shortstop, but the throw wasn't in time and Missouri State scored first.

An infield single scored a second run for the Bears. The next batter doubled in a pair of runs to give MSU a 4-0 lead, still with just one out.

A walk ended Maples' afternoon and brought in Hopkins. After an infield single, another single to center brought in the final two runs of the inning and Tulsa trailed 5-0.

The Bears added a run in the third. After a one-out single, the Bears sacrificed the runner to second, and she scored on an error at third base for the game's final run.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Tulsa	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1
MSU	0	5	1	0	0	0	X	6	10	2

Due to expected weather, the Golden Hurricane schedule changed for Saturday's day two of the tournament. Tulsa will now face the hosts, Lamar, at 9:30 a.m. before a 2:30 p.m. clash with No. 6 Tennessee.