Tulsa
Northern Illinois
Softball Drops First Two Games of Season
2/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 6, 2003
Minneapolis, Minn. - The University of Softball team dropped a pair of decisions at the Ironkids Bread/Metrodome Classic on Thursday, losing to Drake, 8-6, and Northern Illinois, 6-5 in 10 innings.
The Golden Hurricane fought back in its first game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. However, the comeback fell short as with the tying run at the plate for TU.
Freshman Katie Torres and senior Brandi McGuire provided the big sparks for the Hurricane offense with two hits apiece. Junior Heather Hiar, sophomore Stephanie Sliepen, senior Crissy Strimple and freshman LeeAnne Pepper all recorded one hit, respectively. Sliepen and Torres each had a homerun as Tulsa pounded out eight hits in the season opener.
In the second game, the Hurricane scored twice in the opening stanza off a two-run homer by Strimple. Tulsa would add another run in the second inning on a McGuire home run as well. Down 4-3 in the fifth, the Hurricane tied the score on Strimple's second home run of the game, also tying the school record for home runs in a game.
The score remained tied until the 10th inning when the international tie-breaker was used. Tulsa scored first as Holly Reynolds scored on a McGuire double. The Huskies posted two runs in the bottom of the inning for the one-run victory.
Strimple led the Hurricane attack with three hits and three RBI. McGuire and senior Kyla Malone posted two hits apiece. Freshman Julie Shafer, junior Stacey Walkingstick, Sliepen, Torres and freshman Kelly Miller all posted one hit as well.
Tulsa will continue action in the classic tomorrow with another pair of contests. TU plays Northern Iowa at 11:00 a.m., followed by a game with Western Illinois at 1 p.m.
