Tuesday, February 25
Tulsa, Okla.
4:00 p.m.
Tulsa
7-8
9
vs
3
South Dakota State
5-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
South Dakota State
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
3
9
1
Tulsa
1
3
0
0
3
2
X
9
7
1
Photo by: Bill Powell
Maci Cole Home Run Powers Tulsa to Win in Home Opener
2/25/2025 7:46:00 PM | Softball
TULSA, Okla. – Senior Maci Cole had a perfect day at the plate, including a three-run home run in the second inning to help lift Tulsa to a 9-3 win over South Dakota State in Tuesday's home opener at the Collins Family Softball Complex.
Tulsa improved to 7-8 on the season, snapping a two-game skid and picking up a win on the home opener for the third straight season. The Jackrabbits fell to 5-8 and have dropped seven straight after opening the season 6-1.
SDSU outhit the Hurricane 9-7 and each team committed an error that led to a run. Both teams struck out twice, and Tulsa left six on base compared to five from the Jackrabbits.
Maura Moore (5-4) got the start and the decision on Tuesday, spreading eight hits and three runs across five innings of work. She struck out a batter and didn't suffer a walk. Alexa Hopkins tossed two innings of relief, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one.
Cole had three hits, two singles to go with her homer, and drew a walk in her first at bat. She came around to score three times. Claira Skaggs also had a great day at the plate, driving in two runs on two hits, both doubles. She scored once. Aliya Scarborough and Annika Dill each picked up RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Jackrabbits got a pair of hits in the first inning to take its lone lead of the ballgame. A one-out double got a runner on base. With two outs, SDSU picked up a single from Akayla Barnard to score Abby Gentry.
Tulsa didn't take long to respond, though the Hurricane did so with no hits. Cole drew a leadoff walk and then was sacrificed to second by Faith Russell. A groundout to the pitcher moved Cole to third for Skaggs. The TU third baseman hit a ground ball to the shortstop, who committed an error, dropping the ball and allowing Cole to score the tying run.
The Hurricane took the lead in the bottom of the second. A pair of walks set the table for Cole. The catcher delivered the game's biggest hit, a 3-run bomb over the wall in center as TU jumped ahead 4-1. It would prove to be the winning runs, but the Hurricane was not done yet.
TU put together another three-run frame in the fifth, and again Cole was involved. She led the inning with a single. Russell got them both into scoring position with a double to left. Cole scored on an Annika Dill groundout, and then Skaggs ripped another double to score Russell. Skaggs moved to third on a groundout and scored as Aliya Scarborough single up the middle for the 7-1 lead.
South Dakota State got a pair of runs back in the top of the sixth, but Tulsa was able to minimize what looked like a potential disaster inning. A pair of singles sandwiched a wild pitch and had two in scoring position with nobody out. Brooke Dumont singled to left to score one run, and a second came around as Whitney Holcomb had trouble picking up the ball cleanly to cut the lead to 7-3 with still no outs.
That ended Moore's night and Hopkins stepped in. The first batter she faced singled and suddenly the Jackrabbits were threatening more. However, Hopkins got a flyout for the first out and struck a batter out looking for the second. Cole had done her damage with the bat and showed off her defensive prowess for the third out, pouncing on a dribbler in front of home plate and firing a strike to Wood at first base, just beating the runner to escape the inning.
TU got its runs back in the bottom of the frame. Once again, Cole was in on the action, singling with one away to get on board. After Russell walked, Cole would be retired at third on a fielder's choice, leaving runners on first and second with two outs. Skaggs picked the Hurricane up with her second double of the contest, scoring Russell and moving Dill to third. A wild pitch brought Dill home to give Tulsa the 9-3 lead it would keep the rest of the way.
After a leadoff walk in the seventh, Hopkins induced a 6-4-3 double play, the second twin killing of the game for the Hurricane. A lineout to right ended the game.
NEXT UP
Tulsa hosts the Hurricane Invitational on Friday and Saturday at the Collins Family Softball Complex. Kansas City and Drake play at noon on Friday, followed by Tulsa against Kansas City as 2:30 and Drake at 5 that evening. The Hurricane will then face Drake in a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 3:30. The Saturday doubleheader will air on ESPN+.
TU wraps the weekend with a Sunday contest at Oklahoma State in Stillwater. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 in the afternoon on ESPN+.
Tulsa improved to 7-8 on the season, snapping a two-game skid and picking up a win on the home opener for the third straight season. The Jackrabbits fell to 5-8 and have dropped seven straight after opening the season 6-1.
SDSU outhit the Hurricane 9-7 and each team committed an error that led to a run. Both teams struck out twice, and Tulsa left six on base compared to five from the Jackrabbits.
Maura Moore (5-4) got the start and the decision on Tuesday, spreading eight hits and three runs across five innings of work. She struck out a batter and didn't suffer a walk. Alexa Hopkins tossed two innings of relief, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one.
Cole had three hits, two singles to go with her homer, and drew a walk in her first at bat. She came around to score three times. Claira Skaggs also had a great day at the plate, driving in two runs on two hits, both doubles. She scored once. Aliya Scarborough and Annika Dill each picked up RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Jackrabbits got a pair of hits in the first inning to take its lone lead of the ballgame. A one-out double got a runner on base. With two outs, SDSU picked up a single from Akayla Barnard to score Abby Gentry.
Tulsa didn't take long to respond, though the Hurricane did so with no hits. Cole drew a leadoff walk and then was sacrificed to second by Faith Russell. A groundout to the pitcher moved Cole to third for Skaggs. The TU third baseman hit a ground ball to the shortstop, who committed an error, dropping the ball and allowing Cole to score the tying run.
The Hurricane took the lead in the bottom of the second. A pair of walks set the table for Cole. The catcher delivered the game's biggest hit, a 3-run bomb over the wall in center as TU jumped ahead 4-1. It would prove to be the winning runs, but the Hurricane was not done yet.
TU put together another three-run frame in the fifth, and again Cole was involved. She led the inning with a single. Russell got them both into scoring position with a double to left. Cole scored on an Annika Dill groundout, and then Skaggs ripped another double to score Russell. Skaggs moved to third on a groundout and scored as Aliya Scarborough single up the middle for the 7-1 lead.
South Dakota State got a pair of runs back in the top of the sixth, but Tulsa was able to minimize what looked like a potential disaster inning. A pair of singles sandwiched a wild pitch and had two in scoring position with nobody out. Brooke Dumont singled to left to score one run, and a second came around as Whitney Holcomb had trouble picking up the ball cleanly to cut the lead to 7-3 with still no outs.
That ended Moore's night and Hopkins stepped in. The first batter she faced singled and suddenly the Jackrabbits were threatening more. However, Hopkins got a flyout for the first out and struck a batter out looking for the second. Cole had done her damage with the bat and showed off her defensive prowess for the third out, pouncing on a dribbler in front of home plate and firing a strike to Wood at first base, just beating the runner to escape the inning.
TU got its runs back in the bottom of the frame. Once again, Cole was in on the action, singling with one away to get on board. After Russell walked, Cole would be retired at third on a fielder's choice, leaving runners on first and second with two outs. Skaggs picked the Hurricane up with her second double of the contest, scoring Russell and moving Dill to third. A wild pitch brought Dill home to give Tulsa the 9-3 lead it would keep the rest of the way.
After a leadoff walk in the seventh, Hopkins induced a 6-4-3 double play, the second twin killing of the game for the Hurricane. A lineout to right ended the game.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| SDSU | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
| Tulsa | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | X | 9 | 7 | 1 |
NEXT UP
Tulsa hosts the Hurricane Invitational on Friday and Saturday at the Collins Family Softball Complex. Kansas City and Drake play at noon on Friday, followed by Tulsa against Kansas City as 2:30 and Drake at 5 that evening. The Hurricane will then face Drake in a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 3:30. The Saturday doubleheader will air on ESPN+.
TU wraps the weekend with a Sunday contest at Oklahoma State in Stillwater. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 in the afternoon on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Moore, Maura (5-4)
L: Tayler Baker (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Abby Gentry 1 ; Alli Boyle 1
RBI: Brooke Dumont 1 ; Akayla Barnard 1
SH: Cece Hanson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lila McNeill 1 ; Abby Gentry 2
Batting:
2B: Russell , Faith 1 ; Skaggs, Claira 2
HR: Cole, Maci 1
RBI: Cole, Maci 3 ; Dill, Annika 1 ; Skaggs, Claira 2 ; Scarborough, Aliya 1
SH: Russell , Faith 1 ; Holcomb, Whitney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cole, Maci 3 ; Russell , Faith 2 ; Dill, Annika 1 ; Skaggs, Claira 1 ; Turner, Amber 1 ; Pascucci, Tallulah 1
HBP: Dill, Annika 1 ; Turner, Amber 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballIF
/ SoftballC/INF
/ SoftballIF
/ SoftballSoftball | Tulsa vs Drake
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Tuesday, February 25