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Tulsa
Fresno State
Softball Defeats Fresno State For Third Consecutive Time
4/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 12, 2003
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa softball team picked up two key Western Athletic Conference victories with a sweep of Fresno State, 1-0 and 4-1, on Saturday afternoon. A raucous crowd of 623 enjoyed a beautiful day at the Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex. Not only was the sweep the first time TU has ever won both ends of a double-header from Fresno State, it was only the second time since 1997 that the Bulldogs had been swept in conference play.
The first game was a pitching duel between Fresno State's All-American Jamie Southern and Tulsa's freshman Maren Genow. Neither team recorded a base runner until the bottom of the third inning when senior Brandi McGuire reached on a fielding error by the third baseman. Pinch runner Ashlea Montgomery advanced all the way the third with one out, before two ground outs ended the inning.
Southern led off the fifth inning with a single up the middle for the game's first hit. However the Tulsa defense did not allow a Bulldog to reach second base, picking off the lead runner twice. The Bulldogs threatened again in the top of the seventh when Angelina Diaz was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Designated player Elizabeth Pierce followed with a two-out single to left field. Diaz advanced to third as the ball hopped away from Holly Reynolds playing in left. Genow was able to get out of the inning on a ground out by the next batter.
In the bottom of the tenth, senior Crissy Strimple hit a one-out single through the left side, then advanced to second on a fielding error by the left fielder. Freshman Katie Torres hit an infield single to third base, giving the Golden Hurricane a pair of runners. Sophomore Stacey Walkingstick then laced a double to right center field for the game winner, scoring Strimple from second.
Genow improves to 13-4 on the season by throwing a complete 10-inning game. She struck out four Bulldog batters, while walking none and scattering three hits. Giving up her first earned run in conference play Southern falls to 15-10 on the season, while striking out nine TU batters and allowing four hits in 9.1 innings of work.
The nightcap did not start off as a pitcher's duel as Fresno State's Christina Clark took the second pitch of the game to dead center field for her 13th home run of the season. Sophomore Ami Day would give up a second hit in the inning before settling down and not allowing another Bulldog run.
Tulsa took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth inning by posting three runs on the scoreboard. Senior Danielle Olsen led off the inning with a single to left field. Strimple followed with her first triple of the season to score Olsen with the tying score. Torres reached base safely on a fielding error by the shortstop, also allowing Strimple to score. A single by Walkingstick to right field, chased the Fresno State starting pitcher. Freshman LeeAnne Pepper then reached on a fielder's choice, as the Bulldogs tried to get the runner at home but the throw was late, scoring Torres.
The Golden Hurricane added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth as sophomore Stephanie Sliepen led off with a double to left field. She later scored on an one-out single by Strimple.
Fresno State threatened again in the sixth inning, as Diaz walked to start the stanza. However, much like in game one, the Hurricane defense was up to the challenge. Tulsa recorded three fielder's choice ground outs to end the inning. The Bulldogs also opened up the seventh inning with an infield single. However, a ground out and an inning-ending double play sealed the game for the Hurricane.
Day picked up her 12th victory in 20 decisions this season in a complete-game, seven-inning performance. Leslie Poole was saddled with the loss to fall to 6-5 on the year.
Tulsa will close out its home stand on Tuesday night with a single game against Oklahoma State at 6:30 p.m., at the Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex. The contest is one rescheduled from the Border War which was cancelled earlier this week.
