Tulsa
Nevada
Strimple's Big Day Helps Hurricane to Split with Nevada
5/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 3, 2003
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa softball team split with Nevada in its final home softball games of the season on Saturday, winning the first game 5-2 and losing the second game 8-1. Senior Crissy Strimple played a big hand in the Golden Hurricane's six runs, going 5-for-6 on the night including her 10th home run. A crowd of 846 enjoyed her performance at the Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex.
The TU third baseman was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in the first game with two runs scored and an RBI. She also recorded two putouts and six assists, defensively.
Nevada scored first in the game, with a single run in the top half of the fourth inning. However, Tulsa quickly tied the score and took the lead for good in the bottom of the stanza. Strimple opened the half inning with a single through the left side. She would score on an one-out double by fellow senior Brandi McGuire.
Sophomore Stacey Walkingstick continued the inning by forcing and error by the Nevada shortstop. Senior Ashlea Montgomery pinch ran for McGuire. She would score on a ground out by freshman Kelly Miller. Walkingstick scored TU's third run of the inning on a throwing error off a hit by Ami Day.
Nevada cut the deficit to a 3-2 margin in the top of the fifth, by scoring an unearned run on two hits and one TU error. Tulsa added two insurance runs, however, in the bottom of the inning.
Senior Kyla Malone recorded her first double of the season to lead off the inning. She scored when Strimple posted her ninth double of the season. Strimple scored on a single by freshman Katie Torres.
Day picked up her 15th victory of the season, in her 18th complete game of the season. She struck out three Wolf Pack hitters in the seven inning contest, while not allowing an earned run.
The Golden Hurricane got off to a quick start in the second game, when Strimple hit her 10th home run year. The homer was also Tulsa's 30th as a team, tying the school record for long balls in a season. The current record was set by last season's squad.
Nevada bounced back with three runs in the top of the second on a three-run, two-out homer by Ashley Ablahani. Nevada added two more runs in the top of the fourth and the sixth, with another insurance run in the top of the seventh for the final margin of 8-1.
Tulsa threatened in the bottom of the seventh by loading the bases with only one out. However, the Wolf Pack turned its second double play of the contest to end the game. Freshman Maren Genow was saddled her eighth loss of the season.
Tulsa closed the 2003 home schedule with a 13-7 record at the Hardesty complex, the second best home record in school history. Now 34-25 on the year, TU is 8-8 in WAC play. Nevada is 22-25 overall and 5-15 during confernce play.
