Sports editor Jaralynn Tammi Morellano says softball had to overcome two deficits to take the win.
The University of Tulsa’s softball team hosted North Texas University for a three-game series starting on Friday, March 28. Its first match was a gripping match as Tulsa fans watched the Golden Hurricane overcome two different deficits to take the room. This action-packed match ended 8-7 in favor of the Golden Hurricane.
The game did not start off as exciting as fans would think, neither team completing any runs to get on the board. However, the second inning was a set stage for the Golden Hurricane to take the spotlight, as well as the lead. The first run was completed by a series of plays. The first piece in this play was Amber Turner who walked after getting hit by the pitch. Following her, outfielder Whitney Holcomb pulled a walk, allowing her and Turner to inch closer to completed runs. The Mean Green was unable to slow down the Golden Hurricane’s momentum in this innings. Following this play, Elle Rouse was able to double to right-center, and this play scored both Turner and Holcomb.
This double-run score put North Texas down 2-0 at the beginning of the third. This deficit would not last long for the Mean Green, as it took the lead and held Tulsa from scoring for the remainder of the inning.
North Texas had an explosive start, Emma Grahmann of the Mean Green hitting a solo home run to close the gap 2-1. Following in her stead, Riley McNemar hit a solo homer of her own to tie the match. Following these impressive solo plays was a series of plays to pull North Texas ahead of its opponents. The Mean Green offense came together for a double and a stolen base. Finally, a sacrifice fly brought home another player to end the top of the third 2-3 in favor of the Mean Green.
North Texas continued to dominate in the fourth inning, holding down the Golden Hurricane and diminishing the flame it bore in the beginning. The one to add another point to North Texas’ score was Former Tulsa player Kailyn Bearpaw who hit the Mean Green’s third home run of the night. This threat threw the Golden Hurricane into a frenzy which caused it to bring out Alex Hopkins to pitch after a walk.
The fifth inning saw the Golden Hurricane step off the sidelines to become a threat in the match once more. Maci Cole walked to an advantageous position, and Celeste Wood hit a double to score her to put the Golden Hurricane right behind the Mean Green. Wood was able to advance on an infield single and was eventually brought home to tie the game once more (4-4).
The sixth inning saw action from both teams, the exciting turn of events being instigated by North Texas’ offense. North Texas was able to regain its lead on a two-out single, but this would be the only scoring action it saw. Tulsa would completely turn the game around in the bottom of this inning.
Holcomb was able to walk and was scored on Rouse’s second double to tie the game once more. Following this, Rouse advanced to third off a sacrifice bunt. After a walk and a Cole single, the bases were loaded and ready. Page Knight walked, and this forced a run to put Tulsa ahead 6-5. Turner singled to the left, and this allowed for two more runs to put Tulsa on top 8-5.
In the seventh inning, North Texas fought long and hard to catch up to the Golden Hurricane. A two-run homer brough North Texas within one (8-7). Unfortunately for the Mean Green, this would be the end of its scoring action. It would fall just short of a tie, and hand the win over to Tulsa.
This win was a good bounce back after the Golden Hurricane’s loss against Central Arkansas just two days prior. This improved its record to 18-16 and dropped the Mean Green’s to 22-12. Tulsa faced North Texas in two more matches for the remainder of the weekend. Following this segment, Tulsa will continue to host games in the Collins Family Softball Complex. Its next match will be against Charlotte on Friday, April 4. It will be the first match of another three-game weekend.
