UConn 11, Memphis 3
Kiwi McDaniel had three RBI and Briana Marcelino added two hits and three runs on Friday, as UConn opened up its first home conference series of the season with an 11-3 victory over Memphis in five innings. Six different UConn players had hits, including Marcelino, who had a 2-for-4 effort at the plate with a double and RBI. McDaniel chipped in RBI on a walk, single and groundout throughout the contest. Marybeth Olson picked up the win for the Huskies in the circle, allowing three runs on four hits in the complete-game effort. She had nine strikeouts – her second-highest total of the season – against just one walk.
Alyssa Dean led the Tigers with a pair of hits while Gracie Morton collected her second-career home run. Ashley Threatt extended her on-base streak to a team-high 14 games with an RBI single. Mariah Nichols was dealt the loss after tossing 2.1 innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out a pair of batters.
Tulsa 10, Houston 6 (Game 1); Tulsa 3, Houston 1 (Game 2)
Tulsa claimed its third straight American Athletic Conference series win after sweeping a doubleheader against visiting Houston on Friday evening by scores of 10-6 and 3-1 at Collins Family Softball Complex. Tulsa now has won seven consecutive conference games after opening league play with an extra-inning setback at preseason favorite USF on March 29. Julia Hollingsworth had the big hit in game one, breaking a 4-4 tie with a three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth. In the second game, Kassidy Scott allowed a run in the first inning before tossing six scoreless frames and Tulsa benefitted from five Houston errors.
Houston's offense was led Friday by catcher Brooke Vannoy, who went 4-for-6 with a home run and two runs scored across both games. She was joined by Sarah Barker, Maya Thomas and Sarah Queen as those who tallied multiple hits on Friday.
UCF 3, Wichita State 2
UCF opened the American Athletic Conference series against Wichita State with a 3-2 win over the Shockers at the UCF Softball Complex on Friday. Alea White tossed a complete game to improve to 20-6 on the season and 5-0 in conference play. Denali Schappacher and Erin Emanuel both finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate. Emanuel, Brooke Barlow and Kyra Klarkowski each drove in a run for the Knights.
For the Shockers, Sydney McKinney recorded her eighth multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4 at the plate. Erin McDonald pitched her ninth game where she went six or more innings, posting three strikeouts in the loss.
USF 2, ECU 0
Georgina Corrick delivered 10 strikeouts in the Bulls 2-0 victory over ECU on Friday night. Corrick has pitched six double-digit strikeout games this season, nine complete games and five shutouts. Offensively, USF saw five different players collect one hit each, with Bethaney Keen and Brooke Hartman each driving in runs in the first inning.
Erin Poepping surrendered two runs in her 15th complete game of the season for ECU, walking three and striking out one. Tyler King, Rachel McCollum and Ashley Weingartz notched a hit apiece to lead the ECU offense.