Tulsa Softball Splits Pair With UCF

NewsOn6.com

ORLANDO, Florida – The Golden Hurricane's conference season got off to a mixed start on Saturday, splitting a pair of games at UCF.

In the first game, TU simply could not find any production at the plate. Central Florida starter Mackenzie Audas allowed just one hit in the game – a single in the sixth inning to Cierra Hughes.

Meanwhile, the Tulsa pitching staff had a tough time as well, especially start Lacey Middlebrooks. She allowed four earned runs and five hits in her three innings.

UCF scored all four of its runs in the first game in the fourth inning, thanks in large part to some mental mistakes from Middlebrooks. She hit one batter with a pitch and walked two to load the bases. She then hit another batter to bring home a run, followed by three RBI hits from the next three batters.

The second game of the day for Tulsa, however, was quite a bit more pleasant.

Pitcher Aimee Creger saw to that as she turned the tables on the Knights, giving up just one hit in leading TU to a 3-0 win.

Creger threw the complete game and struck out 11.

The teams were gridlocked with zeros on the scoreboard until TU finally came through in the fifth.

Cierra Hughes reached base and stole second before eventually coming home on a single from Samantha Cobb.

The next inning, Cassidy Bowen came through with a two-run homer to give Tulsa its final 3-0 margin.

Tulsa moved to 15-5 overall on the year and 1-1 to start Conference USA play. UCF finished the day at 16-8 (1-1).

The two teams will finish out their series Sunday in Orlando with a first pitch set for 11 a.m. CST.