Tulsa Nabs C-USA Softball Players Of The Week Awards

Junior Jill Barrett was named Conference USA Hitter of the Week, and senior Lacey Middlebrooks earned the Pitcher of the Week award after leading the Tulsa softball team to a 4-1 weekend at the Texas Invitational.

Barrett hit .500 with three doubles, seven runs scored and four RBI, while Middlebrooks went 2-0 with a 0.62 ERA in two starts to lead the Golden Hurricane (11-4) to a second place finish at the Texas Invitational, which included a 7-4 win over the sixth-ranked Longhorns.

Barrett, a native of Greenwood, Ark., went 9-for-18 at the plate, and slugged .667 with a .550 on-base percentage. In two games on Friday, Barrett went 6-for-7 with six runs. She was 3-for-4 with a double and three runs in Tulsa's 7-4 win over No. 6 Texas, and 3-for-3 with three runs in an 8-0 win over Utah State. On Saturday's 11-3 win over Lamar, she doubled and drove in three runs, and scored a run. She was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI in a 3-0 win over Utah State on Saturday.

Middlebrooks, from Wake Village, Texas, pitched 11.1 innings, struck out 12 batters against four walks, and allowed seven hits. Only one of the three runs she allowed was earned. Middlebrooks earned the win on Friday against No. 6 Texas after starting and pitching 4.1 innings, allowing five hits and one earned run. On Saturday against Utah State, she tossed a two-hit shutout with a season-high 10 strikeouts and no walks.

This is Barrett's first Hitter of the Week award, and Middlebrooks' second career Pitcher of the Week award and first of the season.

The Golden Hurricane returns to action next weekend, March 1-3, at the UT Arlington Invitational, where it will face Lamar, Creighton and UT Arlington. TU opens the tournament at 11 a.m. Friday against Lamar, and plays the host UT Arlington at 3 p.m.