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Tulsa
Maryland (Best Western All-Suites Hotel Tourn.)
Hurricane Softball Blows into Florida With Two Victories
2/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 20, 2004
Maryland Box Score | Temple Box Score
Tampa, Fla. - The first trip to the state of Florida by the Golden Hurricane softball team in school history started off with a bang on Friday, as The University of Tulsa swept its opening two games of the USF/Best Western All Suites Tournament at Greco Field in Tampa. TU defeated Maryland, 3-1, in the opening game and defeated Temple, 9-1, in the second game.
Tulsa broke open a scoreless game with the Terrapins with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. After stranding seven runners in the first four innings, sophomores Katie Torres and Kelly Miller hit back-to-back home runs for a 3-0 TU lead. The Hurricane recorded 12 hits in the game, including two apiece by senior Heather Hiar, juniors Stacey Walkingstick and Stephanie Sliepen and sophomore Julie Shafer. Torres and Miller made the most out of their only hits of the game, while junior Ami Day's double was one of five extra-base hits for Tulsa.
Day picked up her third win of the season in a seven-inning complete game. She was one out away from earning her second shutout of the season, as UM scored a run with two outs in the top of the seventh. Day struck out seven Terrapin batters while not allowing a walk.
The Tulsa bats continued the hot streak in TU's second game as the Golden Hurricane posted runs in all five innings of the run-rule win. For the second time on the day, Hiar opened Tulsa's first inning with a double. Torres loaded the bases with a walk, after Walkingstick also drew a one-out walk. Hiar would then score on a fielder's choice by Miller.
Tulsa exploded with four runs in the second inning on four hits. Freshman Lindsay Galloway singled to center field to open the stanza. Following singles by Reynolds and Hiar, the bases were loaded. A pitch hit Walkingstick, allowing TU's second run to score. With the bases still loaded, Sliepen doubled to left center to score the Hurricane's other three runs of the inning.
After giving up a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, TU added two more runs in the top of the fifth for the run-rule victory. Junior Lindsey Dyer won her second game of the season for TU by striking out five Owls and not walking anyone in five innings. Hiar led the Hurricane attack with three hits, two runs scored and two RBI.
Tulsa will return to action on Saturday with an afternoon contest with Hofstra, before entering into bracket play on Saturday evening.
