No. 18 Golden Hurricane Beats, Ties Boise State At Rebel Classic

Shortstop Samantha Cobb drove in four runs to lead the 18th-ranked Tulsa softball team to a 5-2, Game 1 over Boise State Sunday in the UNLV Rebel Classic at Eller Media Stadium.

The Golden Hurricane (26-6-1) and Broncos (14-17-1) ended Game 2 in a 6-6 tie after seven innings when the game reached the drop-dead time due to team travel plans.

Cobb was 4-for-7 with the four RBI and scored two runs in the two games, while third baseman Jill Barrett was 4-for-8 with four runs scored on the day.

Lacey Middlebrooks improved to 11-2 on the season with a complete-game effort in Tulsa's victory. She struck out five batters, and allowed two earned runs on seven hits. Lela Work (4-5) pitched 5.0 innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits, and took the loss for BSU.

Tulsa jumped out of the gate in Game 1 with four runs in the top of the first, when Cobb and Middlebrooks each blasted their fifth home runs of the season. Center fielder Caitlin Everett singled and stole second, Barrett bunted for a single, and Cobb launched a three-run homer over the left field fence. Middlebrooks then followed with a solo shot to left, making the score 4-0.

The Broncos scored a run in the bottom of the third inning when right fielder Haley Bourke reached on a fielder's choice and moved around to score on a bases-loaded walk.

Cobb recorded her fourth RBI of the game in the fifth inning with a one-out double to center field that plated Barrett, who had reached on an infield single and moved to second on a wild pitch.

Boise State picked up its second run in the seventh inning when first baseman Devon Bridges walked and scored on a double down the left field line by shortstop Mackenzie Whyte. Middlebrooks retired three of the next four batters to close out the victory.

In Game 2, TU freshman Caitlin Sill and BSU's Rebecca Patton each went the distance for their respective teams. Sill struck out two batters and allowed three earned runs on seven hits. Patton struck out seven, and allowed six earned runs on nine hits.

Each team scored three runs in the first inning. Boise State scored three in the top half on an RBI double by Whyte and a two-run single by the third baseman Work. The Golden Hurricane responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame on a two-run single by right fielder Haley Henshaw and a bases-loaded walk by Cassidy Bowen, who played first base in the game.

The Broncos scored two more runs in the second inning on a two-run homer by Bourke. The Hurricane, however, answered in the bottom of the third on Catherine Horner's two-run blast to left field. It was the first collegiate home run for the freshman catcher.

Each team scored a run in the seventh to make the score 6-6. Bourke hit her second homer of the game in the top of the frame, and Middlebrooks tied the game with a base hit up the middle that scored Barrett, who led off the bottom half with a single.

Boise State scored a run in the top of the eighth, but with the 2 p.m. drop-dead time, the game reverted back to the last completed inning, resulting in a tie.

The Golden Hurricane returns to action Wednesday when it plays a road contest at Central Arkansas at 5 p.m. TU returns home next weekend, March 29-30, to play host to UCF. The teams play a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, and a single game at 11 a.m. Saturday that will be televised by Fox Sports Network.