Tulsa Softball Wins Two Games At Courtyard Marriot Invitational

No. 20 Tulsa won twice on Friday, defeating Liberty 23-1 (5 inn.) and Western Illinois 7-3, to open the Courtyard Marriott Tournament at Marita Hynes Field.

Senior shortstop Jill Barrett went 6-for-8 Friday and scored three runs. She hit safely in her first three at bats of the first game, extending her streak to 11 consecutive at bats with a hit. That is the third-longest such streak in NCAA history and longest in Tulsa and Conference USA history.

The Golden Hurricane (18-2) totaled 30 runs on 37 hits in the two games. TU set a school record with 23 runs against Liberty, surpassing the previous record of 20 runs, scored against Central Arkansas on April 4, 2007.

Sophomore Caitlin Sill (5-2) earned the complete-game win against Liberty (2-16), striking out six batters and allowing one run on three hits.

Senior Aimee Creger (8-0) earned the win against Western Illinois (10-4), tossing 6.0 innings with eight punch outs and allowing one earned run on seven hits.

In the two games, sophomore catcher Catherine Horner was 6-for-7 with five RBI and four runs, while senior right fielder Haley Henshaw went 4-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored.

Tulsa tallied 24 hits against Liberty and 13 hits against Western Illinois. In all, 13 Hurricane players recorded a hit, 13 players scored a run, and 11 players drove in run against Liberty.

Against Liberty, the Hurricane scored 10 runs in the first inning, and added a run in the second, three runs in the third, six in the fourth and three runs in the fifth frame. Fifteen players received at least two at bats, and 14 of the players reached base via hit or walk, while 13 scored or drove in a run. The Flames scored a run in the bottom of the fourth.

TU tallied seven extra base hits in Game 1, including home runs by Horner, and fellow sophomores Jodi Edmiston and Jocelyn Sheffield. Horner's was a three-run homer, Sheffield hit a two-run homer and Edmiston launched a solo shot. It was the second round tripper of the season for Horner and Sheffield, and the first for Edmiston. Henshaw, junior first baseman Julie Kernen, and freshmen Brittany Walker and Maddie Withee each doubled for TU.

In the contest against Western Illinois, Tulsa scored twice in each of the first two frames, and put up three runs in the third inning. The Leathernecks scored once each in the third, sixth and seventh innings. Among Tulsa's 13 hits were five extra base hits, including Henshaw's second home run of the season – a two-run shot to right – and doubles by Barrett, Horner, senior second baseman Shelby Blanton and junior left fielder Erica Sampson.

The Golden Hurricane plays host and No. 13 Oklahoma at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.