Tulsa 10, USF 4
Tulsa scored five runs in the top of the first and never looked back on its way to a 10-4 win over USF on Saturday to even the three-game series to open American play. Sarah Briers, Morgan Neal and Mikayla Whitten recorded three hits apiece for the Golden Hurricane, who tied a season high with 16 hits. Haley Meinen tied a career high with three RBIs to help the offense, while Neal and Rylie Spell each drove in a pair of runs. In the circle, Samantha Pochop improved to 7-4 after she allowed just three hits and three earned runs, while striking out eight.
Lindsey Devitt homered and drove in three runs for the Bulls, while starter Nicole Doyle took the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) in 2/3 of an inning for USF.
Memphis 8, ECU 0 (5 innings)
Memphis bounced back Saturday afternoon with an 8-0 victory over ECU at the Tigers Softball Complex. Memphis scattered runs in all but the second inning en route to the commanding victory. Regan Hadley and Alyssa Dean led Memphis with a pair of hits each. Ashley Threatt extended her on-base streak to a team-leading seven games with a hit in the first inning, while Baylee Smith scored a career-high four runs for the Tigers. In the circle, Mariah Nichols tossed her second complete game shutout of the season, striking out six on the way to her sixth win of the season.
Whitney Sanford took the loss after surrendering six runs (all earned) on five hits with six walks and three hit batters. Ashleigh Inae and Ashley Weingartz recorded the only two hits of the day for the Pirates.
UCF 2, UConn 1
UCF became the first American team to two wins with a 2-1 victory over UConn Saturday at the UCF Softball Complex. Breanna Vasquez struck out seven and allowed three hits and one unearned run on the way to the win for the Knights.
Tamesha Glover led the Knights on offense going 2-for-2 at the plate with a double, and Cassidy Brewer (double) and Jazmine Esparza drove in UCF’s two runs. Devon Casazza (double), Ashley Etsy and Reese Guevarra tallied UConn’s three hits, as Katie Koshes took the loss in the circle.
Houston 5, Wichita State 4
A two-out, bases-loaded single from Rachel Hill in the top of the seventh helped Houston comeback and take down Wichita State 5-4 on Saturday. Hill led the Cougars with her two RBI on the day, as Arielle James posted a team-high two hits in the contest, scoring two runs in the process. Presley Bell earned the victory and improved to 7-1 on the season.
Ryleigh Buck led the way offensively for Wichita State with two hits, driving in two runs with a home run. Erin McDonald tossed her fifth complete game of the season in the loss.