Golden Hurricane takes conference series from East Carolina

TULSA — The Tulsa Golden Hurricane softball team took a home American Athletic Conference series to the host East Carolina Pirates last weekend at Collins Family Softball Complex, Tulsa got a 2-1 victory last Friday and got a series-clinching 10-2 win on Sunday. ECU took the middle game 5-2 on Saturday afternoon.

In Friday’s win, junior pitcher Maura Moore struck out 10 Pirates to improve to 9-5.

MacKenzie Denson collected a pair of hits on Friday, the lone player on either team with more than one. She also came around to score. Imani Edwards had a double and a run batted in. Second baseman Abby Jones also collected a double. Claira Skaggs drove in what proved to be the winning run on a fielder’s choice.

In Saturday’s loss, the Golden Hurricane (27-14 overall, 12-6 in American Athletic Conference play) recorded eight hits, but only had multiple hits in an inning in the sixth and left nine on-base in the loss.

Anneca Anderson (7-4) took the loss. The freshman tossed 3.2 innings and allowed three runs on two hits and four walks. She struck out eight. Kylee Nash came on in relief and gave up two runs on five hits in 3.1 innings of work. Nash struck out eight opponents.

In Sunday’s win, the Golden Hurricane scored seven runs in its final two innings to walk-off East Carolina in six innings.

Edwards and junior third baseman Skaggs each hit two-run homers in the sixth, their fourth of the season. Edwards finished with two hits and three driven in, and Skaggs posted four RBI on three hits. Kailyn Bearpaw doubled in two runs in the game and Celeste Wood capped the scoring with a line drive in the gap in right center that would have easily been extra bases if the game-ending run wasn’t already on third base. Denson had herself a three-hit game in the leadoff spot and came around to score twice. Maci Cole also collected a pair of hits and scored twice, including the walk-off run.

Moore (10-5) got the start and the win. The junior spun four innings and allowed two runs on five hits. She also struck out eight while walking just one. Moore got herself in a jam in the fifth with the bases loaded, making way for Nash. Nash prevented the big inning by allowing just two runs with only one ball leaving the infield. She’d go on to set the Pirates down in the sixth and get her third save of the season.

The Golden Hurricane will return to action this evening to start a three-game series at North Carolina-Charlotte. First pitch for Game 1 is set for 5 p.m.