USF 4, Tulsa 0 (8 innings)
USF softball shut out the reigning American Athletic Conference tournament champion Tulsa behind a 16-strikeout performance from Georgina Corrick, and a walk-off grand slam in the eighth inning by Macy Cook.
Tied at 0-0 in the bottom of the eighth with one out, back-to-back singles by Meghan Sheehan and Lindsey Devitt, along with an error that put Bethaney Keen on first, loaded the bases with Bulls. Cook delivered the game-winner, blasting a pitch over the wall in left field for the walk-off grand slam.
Corrick fanned a single-game career high 16 batters in the league-opener, with at least one strikeout in each inning and no walks for her 12th straight win. Morgan Neal led Tulsa with a 2-for-4 day at the plate, while Kassidy Scott went 7.1 innings and fell to 5-2 with the loss.
ECU 5, Memphis 4 (8 innings)
ECU rallied from a 3-0 first-inning deficit to claim a 5-4 eight-inning win over Memphis in both teams' conference opener Friday evening. Erin Poepping went the distance in the circle for the Pirates, tossing her 13th complete game of the season. She allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out 11 batters, limiting Memphis to just one run after the first inning. Rachel McCollum paced the ECU offense with a 4-for-4 showing and drove in a run. Logan Wood also posted two hits while Ashley Weingartz notched a hit, scored a run, drove in two and drew a pair of walks.
With one out in the eighth, Inae was hit by a pitch and McCollum singled to the left side. After Logan Wood reached base via an error to load the bases, a strikeout brought Weingartz to the dish and she came through clutch, singling down the left field line to plate Inae and give the Pirates the lead they would not relinquish. Sara Ann Davidson led the Tigers with two hits and two RBI, as both she and Gracie Morton notched their first collegiate home runs in the loss. Mariah Nichols suffered the loss, surrendering the winning run and giving up three hits in two innings of relief.
UCF 2, UConn 0
UCF opened American play with a 2-0 win over UConn Friday night at the UCF Softball Complex. Alea White picked up the win in the circle to improve to 14-6 on the season and 1-0 in conference play, tossing her 14th complete game and fifth shutout of the season while striking out six Huskies and giving up two hits.
Karissa Ornleas led the Knights on offense going 2-for-2 at the plate, and both Jazmine Esparza and Tamesha Glover drove in runs for UCF. Briana Marcelino and Ashley Etsy collected UConn's two hits, with Marcelino collecting a double.
Wichita State 13, Houston 5 (5 innings)
Wichita State opened American play with a 13-5 home victory over Houston on Friday night, as Ryleigh Buck tied her career-high with three hits and Kaylee Huecker tallied her first career home run to lead the Shockers offensively. Caitlin Bingham earned her 11th win of the season after tossing four innings and allowing four hits.
For Houston, Sarah Barker went 1-for-2 in the contest with a pair of runs batted in. Arielle James extended her hitting streak to seven games with her double in the fifth inning and Lindsey Stretch stretched her reached base streak to 20 games in the contests with her walk in the third.