KTUL.com - Tulsa's Channel 8 - News, Weather & SportsTU Softball Tops Missouri State, 9-7

The TU softball team rallied from a 7-6 deficit with a three-run fifth inning to defeat Missouri State 9-7 in the opening round of the NCAA Norman Regional Friday in Norman.

The Golden Hurricane (44-13) scored five times in the bottom of the second inning and 6-2 until the Bears erupted for a five-spot of their own in the top of the fifth.

But, Aimee Creger doubled to lead off the fifth and scored the tying run when Skylar Swanson lined a two-out single to right. Swanson then singled when Caitlin Everett followed with a triple and Everett scored when Jill Barrett reached on a fielding error.

The rest was up to TU reliever Lacey Middlebrooks. Middlebrooks pitched a perfect sixth and seventh innings to preserve the win.

Everett led Tulsa, going 2-for-3 with three runs batted in and two runs scored. Creger also had two hits for the Golden Hurricane, who will play Saturday against the winner of tonight's game between the host Oklahoma Sooners and Iona.