Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Overall Rank: #24
Conference Rank: #2 Conference USA
Tulsa Team Page
Head Coach John Bargfeldt (215-130, .623) begins his seventh season after leading the Golden Hurricane to Conference USA’s regular season title and a berth in the NCAA Super Regional. The Golden Hurricane lost in the Regional final 5-0 to the University of Oklahoma and finished the season ranked 24th, which was the highest since the softball program was started in 1993. Tulsa’s season opener is February 10th in the 26th Louisiana Classics.
2011: 46-15,19-5
2011 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: John Bargfeldt
Field Players:
Tulsa returns 12 players from 2011 including six all-conference selections: pitcher Aimee Creger, centerfielder Caitlin Everett, shortstop Samantha Cobb (.342), pitcher Lacey Middlebrooks, third baseman Jill Barrett (.296) and outfielder/second baseman Shelby Blanton (.295). Everett led the team in batting (.407) as well as stolen bases (35 bases in 41 attempts). The Hurricane also welcome back senior second baseman Skylar Swanson, junior catcher Cassidy Bowen, outfielder Jessica Stoelke and sophomores Haley Henshaw (outfield) and Emma Horton (catcher). TU has added five players for the 2011-12 season including freshmen Jodi Edmiston, Amy Harrison, Julie Kernen and Samantha Rhodes and Oklahoma transfer Cierra Hughes.
Pitchers:
Two of the three pitchers return including the ace Creger, who set school records for wins (24-3), strikeouts (256) and opponent’s batting average (.125). She hurled 11 shutouts and averaged 9.28 strikeouts per 7 innings and she batted .276. Also back is Middlebrooks who compiled a 11-5 record with a 2.89 ERA. Jordan Kinard (11-7, 2.21 ERA) has graduated. Sophomore pitcher Kalynn Schrock returns to the team after a redshirt 2011 season. She was 10-5 with a 2.60 ERA in 2010.
Who To Watch:
Creger doesn’t allow a lot of hits or runs per seven innings. She was 5th in the nation with a 1.05 ERA and ranked 34th in wins with 24. She will be one of the keys as to how Tulsa does this season.
Final Projection:
Tulsa had the second most wins in school history in 2011 and has the potential to equal or top that mark. The team, however, doesn’t have a lot of power, hitting only 33 homers in 2011. But the Golden Hurricane expects to be in every game because of solid defense and pitching, especially the pitching of Creger, who was second in nation in hits allowed per 7 innings (3.3). The team ranked 10th in defense (.975 fielding percentage) and 21st in ERA (1.83).
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Jill Barrett, 3B, 199
Hits: Caitlin Everett, OF, 79
Home Runs: Samantha Cobb, SS, 6
RBIs: Samantha Cobb, SS, 51
Runs: Jill Barrett, 3B, 39
Stolen Bases: Caitlin Everett, OF, 35
Wins: Aimee Creger, P, 24
Innings Pitched: Aimee Creger, P, 193
Strikeouts: Aimee Creger, P, 256
Saves: Aimee Creger, P, 4
