Wednesday, May 7
Tampa, Fla.
9:00 a.m.
Tulsa
21-32
1
vs
0
UTSA
21-34
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
UTSA
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
Tulsa
0
0
0
1
0
0
X
1
8
0
Tulsa Softball Shuts Out UTSA, Moves on to Face Wichita State Wednesday Afternoon
5/7/2025 2:14:00 PM | Softball
TAMPA, Fla. – Brinly Maples threw a complete-game shutout, and a bases loaded walk gave her all the run support she needed as the eighth-seeded Golden Hurricane softball team beat the nine seed, UTSA, in the opening game of the 2025 American Athletic Conference Championship at USF Softball Stadium on Wednesday.
Tulsa (21-32) advances to face the fifth-seeded Wichita State in the second round, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. pending the finish of Memphis and UAB. The game will air on ESPN+. UTSA finishes its season 21-34.
Maples (6-7) allowed just six hits in her seven innings of work. The junior hurler walked three and struck out four. She also had the support of great defense behind her. Both left fielder Whitney Holcomb and center fielder Annika Dill made highlight diving catches at various points in the contest to keep UTSA off the board.
The UTSA counterpart in the circle, Ava Eldridge (8-10), also went the distance. She was the winner in her two appearances against the Hurricane in the regular season and had another strong outing for the Roadrunners on Wednesday. In her six innings of work, Eldridge allowed eight hits and one run while striking out four. Her five walks came back to bite her, though, leading to the lone run of the game.
Faith Russell drove home the winning run in the fourth inning. She worked a bases loaded full count and then took a pitch low for ball four, bringing home Holcomb from third. Russell had a productive day at the plate, picking up a pair of hits and a walk. Elle Rouse also had a two-hit day. Danielle Burns also got on-base twice, drawing a pair of walks in strong at-bats.
Tulsa outhit UTSA 8-6 and each team stranded 10 baserunners. The Hurricane left the bases loaded twice, in the second and fourth innings. UTSA did so in the top of the sixth, their best chance to tie or take the lead.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hurricane had the first real opportunity of the game in the second inning. A walk to Amber Turner, a single from Rouse and a walk from Burns loaded the bases with two away. However, the Roadrunners got a flyout from Maci Cole to end the threat with the game still scoreless.
In the third, Tulsa got back-to-back singles from Russell and Dill to open the bottom frame. A sharply hit ball to third started a double play as the third baseman stepped on the bag herself before firing over to first. Now with two outs, Turner dropped a single to left. Dill raced around third but the throw was on-time and true, catching her at the plate for the final out of the inning.
TU broke through in the fourth inning. It started with a strikeout to lead things off. Rouse singled up the middle but was retired on a fielder's choice after getting caught between bags on a shallow fly ball for the second out. Burns drew a full count walk to move Holcomb to scoring position. Cole was pitched around for the second walk of the frame, and then Russell drew a walk on a 3-2 count to drive home Holcomb and give Tulsa the 1-0 lead.
Maples comfortably moved through the UTSA lineup until the sixth inning. The Roadrunners got a leadoff single. After a strikeout, an infield single and a walk loaded the bases with just one out. But the junior hurler settled in and caught the next batter looking for a big second out. Maples then blew the next three by Madison Hornback, who couldn't catch up to strike three as TU escaped the jam unscathed.
A walk and single in the top of the seventh again started to tighten things, but again Tulsa responded. First, a nice diving play from Holcomb in left for the first out, keeping the runners at bay. The next batter flew out to Holcomb and the Roadrunners were down to their final out. Maples induced a popup. Cole settled under it and made the grab as Tulsa won 1-0 to move on.
UP NEXT
Tulsa faces the No. 5 seed Wichita State later on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. pending the end of the game prior, Memphis vs. UAB.
Tulsa (21-32) advances to face the fifth-seeded Wichita State in the second round, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. pending the finish of Memphis and UAB. The game will air on ESPN+. UTSA finishes its season 21-34.
Maples (6-7) allowed just six hits in her seven innings of work. The junior hurler walked three and struck out four. She also had the support of great defense behind her. Both left fielder Whitney Holcomb and center fielder Annika Dill made highlight diving catches at various points in the contest to keep UTSA off the board.
The UTSA counterpart in the circle, Ava Eldridge (8-10), also went the distance. She was the winner in her two appearances against the Hurricane in the regular season and had another strong outing for the Roadrunners on Wednesday. In her six innings of work, Eldridge allowed eight hits and one run while striking out four. Her five walks came back to bite her, though, leading to the lone run of the game.
Faith Russell drove home the winning run in the fourth inning. She worked a bases loaded full count and then took a pitch low for ball four, bringing home Holcomb from third. Russell had a productive day at the plate, picking up a pair of hits and a walk. Elle Rouse also had a two-hit day. Danielle Burns also got on-base twice, drawing a pair of walks in strong at-bats.
Tulsa outhit UTSA 8-6 and each team stranded 10 baserunners. The Hurricane left the bases loaded twice, in the second and fourth innings. UTSA did so in the top of the sixth, their best chance to tie or take the lead.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hurricane had the first real opportunity of the game in the second inning. A walk to Amber Turner, a single from Rouse and a walk from Burns loaded the bases with two away. However, the Roadrunners got a flyout from Maci Cole to end the threat with the game still scoreless.
In the third, Tulsa got back-to-back singles from Russell and Dill to open the bottom frame. A sharply hit ball to third started a double play as the third baseman stepped on the bag herself before firing over to first. Now with two outs, Turner dropped a single to left. Dill raced around third but the throw was on-time and true, catching her at the plate for the final out of the inning.
TU broke through in the fourth inning. It started with a strikeout to lead things off. Rouse singled up the middle but was retired on a fielder's choice after getting caught between bags on a shallow fly ball for the second out. Burns drew a full count walk to move Holcomb to scoring position. Cole was pitched around for the second walk of the frame, and then Russell drew a walk on a 3-2 count to drive home Holcomb and give Tulsa the 1-0 lead.
Maples comfortably moved through the UTSA lineup until the sixth inning. The Roadrunners got a leadoff single. After a strikeout, an infield single and a walk loaded the bases with just one out. But the junior hurler settled in and caught the next batter looking for a big second out. Maples then blew the next three by Madison Hornback, who couldn't catch up to strike three as TU escaped the jam unscathed.
A walk and single in the top of the seventh again started to tighten things, but again Tulsa responded. First, a nice diving play from Holcomb in left for the first out, keeping the runners at bay. The next batter flew out to Holcomb and the Roadrunners were down to their final out. Maples induced a popup. Cole settled under it and made the grab as Tulsa won 1-0 to move on.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| UTSA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Tulsa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 1 | 8 | 0 |
UP NEXT
Tulsa faces the No. 5 seed Wichita State later on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. pending the end of the game prior, Memphis vs. UAB.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Maples, Brinly (6-7)
L: Ava Eldridge (8-10)
Base Running:
HBP: Kalee Rochinski 1
Batting:
RBI: Russell , Faith 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Holcomb, Whitney 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
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