Tulsa Wins Fifth Straight, Defeats #13 LSU and Kansas in Doubleheader Sweep

Saturday, March 18

Lawrence, Kan.

9:00 am

Tulsa

18-10

LSU

22-7

LSU

Tulsa

Tulsa Wins Fifth Straight, Defeats #13 LSU and Kansas in Doubleheader Sweep

3/18/2017 4:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Riley Ubben

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Tulsa Softball team won their fourth and fifth straight games on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep, moving to 4-0 at the Rock Chalk Challenge with a 1-0 win over No. 13-ranked LSU before a seventh-inning rally propelled the Hurricane (19-10 Overall) to a 4-3 win over Kansas.

The Hurricane shutout their fourth straight opponent in the opening contest against LSU (22-7 Overall), marking their second straight shutout of a ranked opponent dating back to the game against No. 23-ranked California on March 10.

Emily Watson picked up complete game shutouts in both games against the ranked competition including today, putting together a run of 32 innings of scoreless pitching while striking out 49 batters during the span. The junior recorded her career-best 13^th win of the season, moving to 13-3 with a 1.19 earned run average with five shutouts on the year.

Julia Hollingsworth scored the only run of the contest, crossing the plate in the opening frame after a leadoff walk and two wild pitches moved her over to third base. Maddie Withee sent a one-out fly ball deep enough to center field two batters later to drive in Hollingsworth to put Tulsa up 1-0.

The Hurricane fell behind to host-Kansas (16-11 Overall) 3-0 after a two-run home run by Taylor Dodson.

Shelby Estocado homered to center field in the top of the fourth inning to bring TU within two scores of Kansas, moving into seventh all-time on Tulsa's home run list with 21 in her career. The junior is tied with Erica Sampson (2014-15) and Sara Dyer (2005-08) and currently trails Skylar Swanson (2009-12) by one home run for sixth all-time.

Tulsa looked to further trim the Jayhawk lead in the fifth inning, but left the bases loaded for the second inning.

Rylie Spell and Hollingsworth opened the top of the seventh inning with consecutive singles before a pinch-running Lauren Lomax crossed the plate on a Maggie Withee single to pull within one at 3-2. Both Spell and Maggie Withee finished the afternoon a perfect three of three at the plate while Maggie posted her 10^th multi-hit performance of the season.

Maddie Withee followed with a double to drive in two to give Tulsa a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh, their first lead of the game.

Lexi Blevins kept Kansas off the board in the final inning, one of her four innings pitched on the day while securing a win to move to 3-6 on the year. Blevins allowed just two hits while walking one and striking out four in relief of Haley Meinen.

The Hurricane will wrap up play at the Rock Chalk Challenge tomorrow morning with a contest against Omaha at 9 a.m.