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Tulsa
Illinois-Chicago (Ole Miss/Easton Rebel Classic)
Pinkerton Puts Flames Out on 100 Against Illinois-Chicago
2/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 14, 2004
Oxford, Miss. - The University of Tulsa Head Coach James Pinkerton reached another milestone Saturday morning at the Rebel/Easton Invitational by defeating Illinois-Chicago, 11-1, to pick up is 100th victory as the TU skipper. In addition to being the first TU head coach to record a winning record, Pinkerton is also the first coach to record triple-digit victories. Tulsa also defeated Tennessee-Martin, 7-2, later in the afternoon.
Against the Flames of UIC, sophomore Kelly Miller hit her first career homerun with two runners on base to give TU a 3-0 lead. All five of the Golden Hurricane's home runs this season have been three-run homers. Junior Stacey Walkingstick singled to right field with one out, followed by a walk by fellow junior Stephanie Sliepen to set up Miller's homerun.
The Hurricane picked up another run in the top of the second inning as sophomore LeeAnne Pepper led off the inning with a walk. Freshman Christie Wilson reached on an error as she attempted a sacrifice bunt. After a fielder's choice by senior Heather Hiar, Walkingstick walked to load the bases. Sliepen singled in her second at-bat of the game to score Wilson.
Two more runs crossed the plate for TU in the third inning, as Miller led off the third stanza with a walk. A two-out single by freshman Angela Osbon scored Miller. Wilson again did not register an at-bat, this time earning a walk to give the Hurricane a pair of base runners. Following a pitching change, Hiar singled to left field to score Osbon.
Tulsa did not score any runs in the fourth inning, but TU did explode for five runs in the fifth inning. Pepper led the inning off with a walk, while junior Holly Reynolds pinch ran for her. After Osbon singled, Wilson again reached safely by an error on a sacrifice bunt, loading the bases. Reynolds and Osbon scored when an errant throw got past the catcher. Hiar was also safe at first base on the play. With two base runners, Sliepen hit another three-run homer for TU's final runs of the game.
After holding the Flames scoreless for four and two-thirds innings, sophomore Maren Genow gave up her only run on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the fifth. She would recover, however, to earn the 11-1, run-rule victory.
In its second game of the day, the Hurricane again blew out to a big lead by scoring all seven runs in the first two innings. After shutting down the Skyhawks in order in the top of the first, Walkingstick singled to right field to start four consecutive hits. Sliepen singled to put runners on the corners for TU, while sophomore Katie Torres doubled home Walkingstick. Miller singled to score Sliepen, while Torres scored on a single by freshman Lindsay Galloway. Miller would later score on a passed ball for TU's fourth run of the inning.
Tulsa picked up where it left off in the second inning, as the Hurricane scored three more runs. After Reynolds singled and stole second, Walkingstick walked to set up Sliepen's three-run home run.
While the Hurricane could not record another hit until the sixth inning, freshman Julie Fennell did not need anymore help. The Valliant, Okla., native kept UTM in check by striking out seven Skyhawk batters. She did allow a two-run home run in the UTM half of the fifth, but did not allow a runner past first base after that.
Tulsa improves to 6-2 on the season, while UIC finishes the day 0-6 and UTM finishes 0-2. Due to inclement weather in the area, Sunday's schedule will not be finalized until the morning.
