Tulsa
Wichita State
Softball Team Earns Win in Rain Shortened Twinbill
4/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 16, 2002
Tulsa, Okla. - Eight of nine TU starters reached base safely in a 8-2 rain-soaked non-conference game with Wichita State at the Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex on Tuesday evening. Four Hurricane recorded two hits apeice as TU pounded out 11 hits, including a double and two home runs.
Sophomore Heather Hiar was hit by the first pitch in the bottom of the first inning. Following a Stacey Walkingstick sac bunt, Hiar scored from second on Crissy Strimple's single to center field to give TU an early 1-0 lead.
WSU would tie the game in the top of third innng, when Tina Lewis led off with a single through the left side. After she stole second base, Lewis advanced to third on Stephanie Scott's sacrifice bunt. A Nicki Mooers single scored Scott to tie the game.
The Golden Hurricane did not take long to break the tie, by exploding for four runs in the bottom of the third. Brandi McGuire singled to left field, followed by a Hiar double. Ashlea Montgomery, running for McGuire, scored on Hiar's double. Following a Walkingstick single, Danielle Olsen sent a shot over the centerfield fence for her fifth home run of the season.
Wichita State scored its second run in the fifth. Aubrey Walters doubled to center field with one out. She would score on Carla Torres' single to center. Like the third inning, the Shockers lone run was not a good omen. Tulsa added three insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth for the final margin.
Back-to-back singles by Walkingstick and Olsen with one out, set up Strimple with two runners on base. The Moore, Okla., native sent a Lindsay Craig offering over the left centerfield fence for her team-best sixth home run of the season.
The two home runs tied a school record for homeruns in a game. Olsen's home run broke the school record long balls in a season with 22. The 1996 Tulsa team hit 21, which was the previous best. The 2002 squad now has 23 home runs thus far this season.
Tulsa will travel to the West coast this weekend and return to Western Athletic Conference action. On Thursday, TU will face Loyola Marymount in a WAC doubleheader in Los Angeles. On Saturday, the Hurricane will face Portland State in Portland.
The next home game for TU will be April 23, in a make-up doubleheader with Pittsburg State beginning at 5 p.m. The doubleheader will kickoff an eight-game homestand for TU.
