Houston 8, UConn 0
The Huskies were blanked by the Cougars in the first game, 8-0, dropping the contest in five innings despite hits from Cutler and redshirt freshman Olivia Sappington. Sophomore pitcher Katie Koshes (4-8) picked up the loss for the Huskies.Savannah Heebner earned the complete-game win for Houston, as she struck-out five and walked just one in five innings of work. She stranded five UConn runners in the game, including a situation with runners on the corners with no outs in the second. Houston took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, after Heebner hit a solo home run off Koshes – who allowed four runs on five hits in 2.1 innings of work against the Cougars.In the third and fourth innings, Houston scored three runs each to extend its lead to 7-0 – scoring off both Eckert and freshman Marybeth Olson, who relieved Koshes in the circle. Sarah Queen went 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored for the Cougars.UConn’s best scoring chance came in the second, when Cutler hit a lead-off double, followed by Sappington’s single. With runners on the corners and no outs, the Huskies were unable to punch any runs across – still trailing Houston after the frame ended.
ECU 5, Wichita State 0
Backed by a complete game shutout from freshman RHP Erin Poepping, ECU defeated Wichita State 5-0 Saturday afternoon to even the teams' American Athletic Conference series at the ECU Softball Stadium. The Pirates are just the second team to shut out the Shockers in league play this season as Wichita State entered the weekend batting .315 in conference games. Poepping limited Wichita State to one hit through the first two innings, allowing ECU to take the lead for good in the home half of the second frame. Redshirt sophomore Tate McClellan doubled to left field, senior Alex Mycek walked and junior Ashley Weingartz loaded the bases when the Shockers were unable to throw McClellan out at third on a ball on the infield. Senior Karlie Smith came through in the next at bat, depositing a 1-2 offering into right center to score two and give the Pirates a 2-0 advantage. Freshman Tyler King then added a run on a sacrifice fly later in the frame to leave the Purple and Gold with a 3-0 lead after two complete innings. Sophomore Olivia Narron capped the scoring in the bottom of the fourth when she reached second on a throwing error to lead off the frame. She moved to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch to push the Pirate cushion to 5-0. The Shockers attempted to rally in the top of the seventh when Bailee Nickerson singled and pinch hitter Neleigh Herring was hit by a pitch, but a fielder's choice force play at third and a fly ball to right field quickly ended the game.
UConn 4, Houston 2
Timely hitting proved to be the difference in the second game, as the Huskies held on for a 4-2 win over Houston behind a three-run fourth inning and the brilliance of Jill Stockley in the circle. Tied 1-1 in the fourth, the Huskies strung together three-consecutive, two-out RBI hits by Marcelino, Cutler and sophomore Kiwi McDaniel off starting pitcher Tristan Melancon to take a 4-1 advantage – a lead that turned out to be permanent against the Cougars. UConn provided more than enough offense for Stockley, as she stranded 10 Houston runners – including the bases loaded in the first inning – to keep the Huskies in front late in the game. She allowed just one earned run (two total) on seven hits in her second-straight complete-game effort.The win improved UConn’s home record to 5-8 this season and gives the Huskies momentum heading into Sunday’s home finale against Houston. Sophomore Chloe Kerns got the scoring started in the third inning, as she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded – plating junior Kelli Bates to give UConn a 1-0 lead. Houston answered in the top of the fourth by scoring on a fielding error by Marcelino, making it 1-1.In the bottom half of the fourth, Nakama reached on a lead-off walk and advanced to third on groundouts by freshman Reese Guevarra and Bates. Marcelino then ripped her team-leading 12th double of the season to bring in Nakama for a 2-1 edge. Cutler and McDaniel followed with RBI hits of their own, pushing the lead to 4-1 and chasing Melancon from the game. Presley Bell took over in the circle for Houston, allowing no runs on one hit in 2.1 innings of relief.
Memphis 3, Tulsa 0
It was a thrilling afternoon at the Tigers Softball Complex as the University of Memphis softball team defeated Tulsa in game two of the series by a score of 3-0. Not only did Molly Smith break the strikeout record set by Ellen Roberts in 2014, but Smith and the Tigers achieved many other milestones Saturday afternoon. The victory lifted the Tigers to 36-16 overall and 10-7 in American Athletic Conference play, a win total that matches the all-time record set during the 2007 and 2011 seasons. Smith also registered her 24th victory of the season, which matches Jenna Kubesch's single-season record set in 2007. Smith's 489th strikeout proved to be her 211th this season, which is a mark that moved her up to sole possession of second on the single-season strikeout list. Smith's third straight shutout was highlighted with five strikeouts and just three hits allowed. She allowed just one extra base hit and had a defense that posted a clean game behind her. Memphis scored one run in each of the first three innings to take the early lead over the visiting Golden Hurricane. In the first and the third innings, Ashley Threatt was responsible for driving in Delaney Smith with a pair of singles through the right side. Smith reached base in the first with her fourth triple of the year. Rebeca Melton added to the Tigers lead in the second with a solo home run to left center field. It was Melton's first home run of the year and second in her career.The victory Saturday also marked just the second time in program history the Tigers have won a series over Tulsa. Memphis looks for its first sweep over the Golden Hurricane Sunday afternoon.
UCF 5, USF 1
The Knights evened the War On I-4 series Saturday night with a 5-1 win over the USF Bulls as UCF put together eight hits and was perfect in the field to collect the win. Cassady Brewer and Erin Emanuel each registered two hits for UCF, while Brooke Barlow recorded a hit and two RBI in the win. Cierra Word picked up the win in the circle moving to 4-1 on the season allowing just four hits and no earned runs, while Alea White came in to earn the save. The Knights got it going in the second inning with Kyra Klarkowski leading off the inning with a walk and advanced to second with a sacrifice bunt from Hayley Bejarano. Emanuel singled up the middle scoring Klarkowski and Megan Greenwell immediately followed with a double to left field to plate Emanuel and go up 2-0 on the Bulls. UCF added two more runs in the third ignited by a single from Brewer. Aubrey Johnson followed by reaching on a USF miscue and moved Brewer to second. Klarkowski advanced the runners to bring up Brooke Barlow who ripped a shot to right field bringing in Brewer and Johnson to make it a 4-0 ball game.The Knights picked up another insurance run in the top of the seventh when Denali Schappacher doubled center and scored after Brewer delivered a single up the middle to extend the UCF lead to 5-0.