Softball strikes out against the Bulls in Game Two

Sports editor Jaralynn Tammi Morellano discusses Tulsa softball’s shortcomings on defense.
The Golden Hurricane played its second game of a three-game series against the South Florida Bulls on Saturday, April 12. Tulsa softball was held to just a single run once more as South Florida continued to dominate offensively and take the game with a 5-1 victory in the USF Softball Stadium. This loss increases Tulsa’s losing streak to seven games in a row and drops its record to 6-11 in the American Athletic Conference (18-23 overall).
As if spectators were watching the same game that played out the night before, Tulsa was able to keep the Bulls from scoring a single run within the first three innings. Just as it happened the day before, the Golden Hurricane could not keep up the defensive shutdown and let South Florida get on the board in the fourth inning.
Junior pitcher Maura Moore started for the Golden Hurricane and was able to hold her ground early in the game until the fourth inning. Moore allowed three runs on five hits through 3.2 innings where she walked two and hit a pair of two batters. The previous night’s starter, Alexa Hopkins came in as relief in this game. Hopkins pitched for the final 2.1 innings, striking out four while surrendering two runs on four hits.
Tulsa’s offense collected seven hits and left seven runners on base while South Florida recorded nine hits and left eight stranded. The Bulls committed the game’s only error, while Tulsa played a clean defense the second straight game.
South Florida’s Belle Sardja (12-4) pitched six strong innings, and she held Tulsa to one run on five hits. Sardja struck out four and walked one, her contributions keeping Tulsa’s offense silent and off the scoreboard. Her reliever was Payton Dixon, the previous game’s starter finishing off this game for the Bulls.
Tulsa was almost a threat in the seventh inning when Elle Rouse reached a scoring position off of a throwing error and an infield single. This hope was quickly snuffed out by the Bulls as the next three batters were retired in order.
The Bulls broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning after taking advantage of two hit batters and back-to-back doubles. This allowed South Florida to jump ahead 2-0. A sacrifice fly added a third run before Moore was relieved. In the fifth, South Florida was able to secure two more runs and extended its lead to 5-0.
The Golden Hurricane’s single run happened in the sixth inning. Maci Cole led off the frame with a single, which extended her hitting streak to 13 games. Faith Russell followed with a single of her own, and Celeste Wood drove Cole in with a sharp, left field single. This scoring stint was fast and commanding, however, the team lost this momentum as quickly as it was gained. This frame was followed by a flyout, a base-running mishap where Wood was struck by a batted ball, and another flyout to center.
This game put Tulsa 0-2 in the three-game series against South Florida. It played its third game the following day, and then returned to Tulsa to accept its losses and prepare for its next match. Its next action will be against Wichita State in the Collins Family Softball Complex. This match is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 17.