.png)
.png)
Tulsa
Arizona (Arizona Pepsi Classic)
Softball Falls To No. 2 Arizona and Northwestern
2/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 4, 2005
Arizona Box Score | Northwestern Box Score
Tucson, Ariz. - The University of Tulsa softball team dropped its first two decisions of the season to No. 2-ranked Arizona, 3-0, and Northwestern, 13-1, in its first day of the Pepsi Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson.
Sophomore Julie Fennell drew the opening assignment against the Wildcats. The Valliant, Okla. native struck out six Arizona batters in a complete-game effort. While allowing seven hits, only one left the infield, with six being slap bunts.
Senior Stacey Walkingstick picked up the Hurricane's lone hit with a single in the sixth inning. Sophomore Katie Torres set a school record for walks in 2004. She picked up where she left off last season by drawing the Hurricane's lone walk of the contest in the fifth inning. A third TU baserunner also came in the sixth inning when sophomore Angela Osbon was hit by a pitch just before Walkingstick's single.
"I felt we had a good effort today, we did some things right but we also came away with some things that we need to work on," said first year head coach Christy Connoyer. "While we didn't put as much offensive pressure on Arizona as we would like, we did make our defensive adjustments as the game went on. We just didn't make them as quickly as we need to make them."
Junior All-American Alicia Hollowell kept the Hurricane hitters off-balanced all game. She struck out 12 TU batters while allowing only one hit and one walk.
The Golden Hurricane concluded the tournament's first day with a contest against Northwestern, an NCAA Regional qualifier in 2004. The purple-clad Wildcats from Illinois jumped out early on TU, scoring three runs in the first inning before recording two outs. The one-third of an inning was the shortest start of TU starter Maren Genow's career, facing only four batters.
Senior Ami Day finished the first inning without giving up another run. However Northwestern was not done, scoring seven runs in the second and three more in the third. The 13 runs were the most runs given up by the TU pitchers since a 14-6 setback to then-No. 9 Oklahoma on Mar. 27, 2002. The 12 run defeat was also the worst defeat for the Hurricane since then-No. 2 Oklahoma won 17-1 on Feb. 16, 2001.
Tulsa scored its run in the top of the fourth inning. Senior Stephanie Sliepen led off the inning with a double. After a Torres walk, sophomore Lindsay Galloway singled home Sliepen. The Hurricane would later leave the bases loaded after a walk by Osbon.
After facing a pair of Wildcats, the Hurricane will face a pair of Aggies on Saturday as New Mexico State and Oklahoma State are on TU's schedule. Tulsa will conclude the tournament on Sunday with an afternoon contest against Kansas.
