Golden Hurricane takes series from Wichita State

WICHITA, Kan. — The Tulsa Golden Hurricane softball team won two of its three road American Athletic Conference games against Wichita State last weekend.

The Golden Hurricane took the opener 5-4 last Friday, followed by an 11-3 five-inning loss on Saturday and a series-clinching 14-5 romp on Sunday.

In last Friday’s win, after the H¬¬¬urricane (25-13 overall, 10-5 in AAC play) responded with three runs in the top of the seventh to retake at 5-3, Wichita State proved it would not go down without a fight. The Shockers loaded the bags twice in the inning and scoring once. Finally, Kylee Nash (9-2) induced a ground ball to Imani Edwards at short, who tossed it over to Claira Skaggs for the force out to secure the win.

In Saturday’s loss, it was the most runs Tulsa has given up this season and only the second time a team has scored 10 or more runs against the Golden Hurricane (vs. Liberty, March 1). Anneca Anderson (7-3) got the start and took just her second loss of the season. She was tagged for four hits and six runs in two innings of work.

Kailyn Bearpaw and Celeste Wood, hitting in the seventh and eighth spots, had Tulsa’s two RBI on Saturday. Bearpaw also had the defensive highlight of the game with a spectacular diving play in right to end the first inning and prevent further runs. Abby Jones and Skaggs each had a hit and came around to score.

In Sunday’s victory, Skaggs, Jones, Bearpaw and Maci Cole all homered.

Nash pitched four innings in relief and got the win, her second of the weekend.

Next up for the Golden Hurricane is a conference home series against East Carolina this weekend. The threegame series will begin with a 5 p.m. this evening at Collins Family Softball Complex.