Tulsa Softball Opens Season With Pair Of Wins In Tiger Classic

Junior outfielder Haley Henshaw drove in three runs in two games to lead the Tulsa softball team to wins over No. 22 North Carolina, 3-1, and Hampton, 3-0, Friday at the Tiger Classic at Tiger Park.

Senior pitcher Lacey Middlebrooks (1-0) earned the win against Hampton with a one-hit shutout in the opener Friday morning. She struck out five batters and walked two. Junior Aimee Creger (1-0) picked up the complete-game win against North Carolina, striking out seven batters and scattering five hits.

Against North Carolina, the Golden Hurricane (2-0) scored all three runs in the sixth inning. The Tar Heels added their run in the top of the seventh.

After five scoreless innings, Tulsa erupted for three runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman outfielder Jodi Edmiston got the frame started with a single to third base, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior center fielder Caitlin Everett. Junior third baseman Jill Barrett doubled down the left field line, scoring Edmiston, and advanced to third on a ground out. After freshman designated player Catherine Horner walked, Henshaw singled to right field, scoring Barrett and junior Cierra Hughes, who pinch ran for Horner.

North Carolina designated player Lauren Walker hit a one-out double down the left field line and scored on a two-out single up the middle by shortstop Kristen Brown. Creger struck out all three batters in the inning, sandwiched around the two hits.

In the season-opening 3-0 win over Hampton, the Hurricane scored two runs in the third inning and added another run in the fifth.

Caitlin Everett hit a one-out single to left field in the third, stole second and advanced to third base on a ground out. Samantha Cobb walked, and Everett scored on a wild pitch. Cobb came around to score on a base hit up the middle by Middlebrooks. Jill Barrett led off the fifth with an infield single, and came around to score on Henshaw's single to left.

Hampton got its only hit of the game – a single to left center by second baseman Bianca Vallejo – in the fourth inning.

The Golden Hurricane continues in the Tiger Classic Saturday when it plays Purdue at 10 a.m. and the host LSU at 5 p.m.