TU Softball Opens Tournament With Two Wins

The Golden Hurricane softball squad opened Florida Atlantic's "Strike Out Cancer" tournament with two big wins Friday morning.

Tulsa notched a 9-0 shutout over Loyola Marymont in game one and came from behind in game two to top Florida International 4-1.

In the first matchup, Caitlin Everett tallied three runs to lead the team to the 9-0 victory over Loyola.

TU scored two runs in the top of the first as Everett bunted to get on base and then stole second before Samantha Cobb doubled to center field to make it 1-0.

Lacey Middlebrooks then doubled to right to scores Cobb and give the Golden Hurricane an early 2-0 lead.

TU added three more runs in the second. Everett singled up the middle to score Hughes then once again stole second and was one of two runs to score Cobb's single up the middle.

After a scoreless third inning, Tulsa saw big production from the plate for a heavy scoring inning to put the game away.

Cierra Hughes led off with a single to second base and stole second. Everett took the plate and knocked another single up the middle to score Hughes.

Everett stole yet another base and advanced to third on Barrett's single. Skylar Swanson bolted a double to left field to score both Barrett and Everett. Another Middlebrooks single scored Swanson to give TU a 9-0 lead.

Tulsa run ruled Loyola Marymont in just five innings. Aimee Creger picked up the win for the Golden Hurricane pitching five innings with eight strikeouts and allowing only three hits.

In game two, Tulsa faced Florida International.

The Panthers got on the board early when Ashley McClain blasted a long ball over the center field wall to take a 1-0 lead.

The Golden Hurricane battled back in the fourth with two runners on. Middlebrooks took the plate and knocked a single to right field that scored Samantha Cobb and Jill Bartlett and gave TU a 2-1 lead.

Tulsa added another run in the fifth to go up 3-1 when Cierra Hughes singled down the right field line to score Shelby Blanton.

The Golden Hurricane added one more run in the sixth as Middlebrooks singled to center to bring Cobb home and take a 4-1 lead.

From inside the circle Middlebrooks went all seven innings allowing only four hits with six strikeouts.

TU will take the field for another doubleheader on Saturday facing Florida A&M at 5 p.m. followed by a 7 p.m. game against Florida Atlantic.