TU Claims 3-0 Victory Over Longhorns In Texas Invitational

Senior Caitlin Sill tossed a two-hit shutout and senior first baseman Jocelyn Sheffield drove home two runs as the Tulsa softball team defeated No. 21 Texas, 3-0, Saturday afternoon at the Texas Invitational at Red and Charline McCombs Field.

Saturday’s win was the second straight for the Golden Hurricane (11-3) over the Longhorns (12-2). Tulsa beat Texas 3-0 in a two-hit shutout less than 24 hours earlier on Friday afternoon. The Hurricane fell to Abilene Christian, 2-1, later Saturday.

Tulsa scored two runs in the first inning, and added an insurance run in the fourth stanza of the 3-0 win over Texas. Sill (5-1) induced 12 ground ball outs in recording her first shutout of the season.

The loss to Abilene Christian stopped an eight-game winning streak for the Hurricane. Junior third baseman Maggie Withee singled home sophomore shortstop Shelby Estocado in the fifth inning, but the Wildcats scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning.

“Sill found her groove, and started pitching ahead,” Tulsa Head Coach John Bargfeldt said. “Early in the game she got behind a little bit, but made pitches to get out of a couple of mini jams. She was in control for the middle to the later part of the game. We had a clutch two-out hit in the first inning, almost a carbon copy of Friday when we got a run in the first inning.”

The Hurricane jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Texas on a two-run double by Sheffield. Senior second baseman Kaitlin Allen’s RBI single in the fourth inning made the score 3-0.

Sill scattered five baserunners across four innings. Only two Texas runners reached second base and never advanced farther in a similarly stellar defensive performance to TU’s win on Friday. In that game, six Texas batters reached base and four advanced to second, but never past that base. After the Longhorns put a runner on second in the second and third innings Saturday, Sill retired the final batter of the third, and sat down 13 of the final 14 batters that came to the plate.

In the first inning, Maggie Withee drew a leadoff walk, and was followed by senior center fielder Jodi Edmiston’s base hit down the left field line. A sacrifice bunt and a walk loaded the bases, and following a strikeout, Sheffield doubled to left field for two runs.

The Hurricane totaled 11 hits and drew three walks in the game, and put runners in scoring position in the fourth through sixth innings, but added just one more run. In the fourth, Estocado led off with a single through the left side, and junior right fielder Brittany Walker bunted for a single, setting up Allen’s base hit that plated Estocado.

After four scoreless innings against Abilene Christian, Tulsa broke through with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning on Maggie Withee’s RBI single. The Hurricane had advanced a runner to second base in the second inning, and a runner to third base in the third frame, but was unable to score.

Abilene Christian followed Tulsa’s run with two in the top of the sixth on RBI singles by shortstop Peyton Hedrick and third baseman Holly Neese, taking a 2-1 lead.

Freshman second baseman Morgan Neal led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to left center and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, but a fly out to left and pop out to short ended the inning. In the seventh, freshman pinch hitter Julia Hollingsworth singled up the middle with one out, and Maggie Withee singled with two outs. The runners advanced to second and third with a double steal, but a swinging strikeout ended the game.

“Against Abilene Christian, it was just one of those pitchers that had three different speeds and had us out in front a lot. It just took us too long to make adjustments,” Bargfeldt said. “We did have some pretty nice, focused at bats later in the game, but it was just too little too late. You have to give them credit, they came up with the clutch hit at the right time.”

Freshman Ellie Reaves started and had a no-hitter going through five innings. She allowed two hits and a fielder’s choice to start the sixth inning, and was relieved by sophomore Emily Watson. Watson (4-2) allowed the two RBI singles, and absorbed the loss. Each TU pitcher was charged with an earned run.

“It was unfortunate. Ellie had a no-hitter, then they hit a little swinging bunt where there’s a collision at first base. That’s the first hit of the ballgame. Then, they had another little slap hit that we had a mix up in coverage,” said Bargfeldt. “We really missed on a couple of outs in that inning where they scored the runs, but we have some young and inexperienced players that are going to get better as the season goes along, and they probably shouldn’t make those mistakes once we’re a little bit more seasoned.”

The Golden Hurricane closes the Texas Invitational against Illinois at noon Sunday. The game will air tape-delayed on the Longhorn Network. It is scheduled to air at 3:30 p.m.