Golden Hurricane Win Three More Fall Games
9/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Sept. 22, 2001
Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa softball team won three more games in route to winning the Missouri Southern State Fall Invitational on Saturday in Joplin, Mo. The Golden Hurricane extended their fall record to 6-0 with wins over Missouri Southern (4-1), Southwest Missouri State (9-4) and Oklahoma City (1-0).
In the first game of the tournament, TU rallied with four runs in the sixth inning. Junior Christy Watkins started the rally with a single to leftfield, with sophomore Heather Hiar following with a double to left. After an intentional walk to leadoff hitter Jessie Smith, freshman Stacey Walkingstick earned a full count walk for TU's first run.
Junior Stephanie Sliepen reached on an error by the shortstop, that scored Hiar from third. Senior Mimi Randolph singled up the middle to score Smith. Sophomore A.J. Morris closed out the scoring by earning TU's second bases-loaded walk of the inning, to score Walkingstick. Freshman Ami Day picked up the win by allowing only on run in seven innings on four hits and three strikeouts, while walking only one batter.
The second game of the day started much like the first game, with the other team scoring first, as SMS picked up a run in the first inning. However, TU scored three runs in the third for a 3-1 lead, that it would not give up. The Hurricane recorded 10 hits and stranded only two runners on its way to a 9-4 victory. Seven TU batters recorded a hit, with Smith, Walkingstick and Randolph recording two hits apiece. Freshman Lindsey Dyer pitched five innings for the win, allowing two earned runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Day did pitch the final two innings, striking out three batters and allowing two hits.
The final game matched TU with last season's NAIA National Champion Oklahoma City. TU was the first to score this time, as Walkingstick scored in the first inning off a Dyer single for what turned out to be game winner. The Hurricane managed seven hits, as junior Danielle Olsen went 2-for-3 from the plate. Day pitched a complete game, allowing only three hits with five strikeouts and no walks. TU also recorded four stolen bases.
