ECU 3, USF 2
ECU handed league leader USF its first American Athletic Conference series loss of the campaign Sunday, downing the Bulls 3-2 in walkoff fashion inside the ECU Softball Stadium. The Pirates have won six of their last seven AAC games and two-straight conference series. The Bulls grabbed the lead in the top of the fourth when Astin Donovan hit a leadoff triple down the right field line and scored on a Lindsey Devitt single up the middle. Samantha Worrell added a two-out RBI double to leave USF with a 2-0 advantage through four complete innings. After a bunt pop up in the fifth, freshman Ashleigh Inae unloaded on an 0-1 offering and lifted a two-run home run over the right field fence to tie the game. Freshman Erin Poepping worked through the USF lineup in the sixth and seventh innings, stranding three runners in all to give ECU a chance to win it in the home half of the seventh. Sophomore Kendra Ziemba singled to center to lead things off and advanced to second base on a fielding error in the outfield. Narron then reached base safely again when the Bulls' defense couldn't handle a bunt attempt cleanly. With runners at the corners and no outs, freshman Tyler King worked a beautiful at bat and eventually hit a slow roller to the shortstop who could not throw home in time as Ziemba slid home for the walkoff victory.
Tulsa 7, Houston 2
The University of Tulsa softball team scored in each of the final five innings to erase an early deficit and defeat Houston, 7-2, on Sunday afternoon at the Cougar Softball Stadium. Julia Hollingsworth and Morgan Neal each recorded three hits for the Golden Hurricane (27-20, 7-8), as the top-third of the lineup combined to go 8-for-12 with a double, five runs scored and three RBIs. The TU offense also received a lift from freshmen Marisa Olmos and Samantha Pochop, who each made their first starts in the field at catcher and first base, respectively. Savannah Heebner's RBI triple came in the bottom of the first and staked the Cougars out to an early 1-0 lead. However, Hollingsworth singled and advanced to second on an error before Neal tied the game with a single in the top of the third. It would be the first of five consecutive innings with a run for the Hurricane. TU took the lead for good in the fourth, when Pochop dropped a two-out single in right-center field to plate Mikayla Whitten. An inning later, the Hurricane broke the game open with three runs as the first five batters in the inning reached base. Hollingsworth walked before singles by Neal and Shelby Estocado extended the advantage to 3-1. With the bases loaded, Olmos nearly cleared them with a two-run hit off the base of the wall in right field.
Wichita State 10, UCF 0
The Wichita State softball team run-ruled UCF, 10-0, on senior day to sweep a conference series at home for the first time since May 2017. Mackenzie Wright and Madison Perrigan led the bats, both going perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, with Mauriana Jamele hitting her first collegiate career grand slam in the win. Earning her second straight start at second base, Jamele sparked a ground out double play in the top of the first to keep the Knights off the board with the Shockers scoring early in the bottom half. Laurie Derrico reached on a fielder's choice to allow Ryleigh Buck to continue the streak of home runs with a deep shot into the wind that flew straight over the center field fence for an early 2-0 Shocker lead. In the bottom half the Shocker bats blew the game open. Paige Luellen and Perrigan singled to get on base in-between a Lange walk to set up the opportunity for Jamele to first pitch crush the ball over the right field fence for a grand slam and a 6-0 lead. Wright and Asea Webber then singled with a throwing error allowing Wright to get home. Lange knocked the Knights down in order in the fourth and then singled to add another baserunner in the bottom half after Bailee Nickerson had drawn a walk. Perrigan then joined the home-run club with a deep shot to right field to push the Shocker lead to 10-0.