Tulsa
Oklahoma
Tulsa Defeats Oklahoma, Again
3/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 23, 2005
Box Score
Click Here to see video highlights of TU's softball game with OU.
Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa softball team recorded one of its biggest victories, if not the biggest, in the program's history on Wednesday night. TU defeated No. 7-ranked Oklahoma 4-2 in front of a crowd of 724 at the Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex. The win was TU's third in the last four meetings against the Sooners, who had won the first 24 meetings between the two schools.
Tulsa (19-18) got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. It was the 20th time this season the Golden Hurricane scored first and eighth time TU scored in the first. Tulsa has won 15 times when it scored before its opponents, while seven of those wins were when TU scored in the opening stanza.
Senior Stacey Walkingstick recorded TU's first hit, a one-out single through the left side. Fellow senior Stephanie Sliepen followed with another single to left field, while junior Katie Torres loaded the bases with a third consecutive single falling into left. Freshman Sara Dyer took a pitch on the leg, forcing home Walkingstick.
Oklahoma (31-6) did not allow TU's lead to last long, as senior Heather Sacglione singled to open the second. Fellow senior Jessica Leslie took the next pitch over the left center fence to give the Sooners a 2-1 advantage.
Tulsa tied the score in the bottom of the second. Junior Julie Shafer looped a single between the left fielder and third baseman. After she stole second, Shafer would then score on a hit-and-run bunt by Walkingstick. OU starting pitcher Kami Keiter fielded the bunt attempt cleanly. However her throw got past Christina Enea and went into right field. Walkingstick made it safely to third on the error. Sliepen was hit by the next pitch, however Keiter was able to get out of the inning.
After the Sooners had their second runner thrown out trying to steal in the top of the third, the Hurricane took the lead in the bottom half of the inning. After a one-out single by Dyer, sophomore Lindsay Galloway recorded her fifth home run of the season with a shot to left field. It was the fourth time she has hit the game-winning home run this season. Of TU's 14 home runs this season, seven have won the game for the Golden Hurricane.
OU threatened the TU lead with a pair of runners in scoring position in the fourth and sixth innings, however TU starter Maren Genow pitched out of both jams. In the fourth, Sacaglione led off with a single again followed by a one-out single by sophomore Jamie Fox. Both runners then advanced on a ground out, however could not score. In the sixth inning, a lead-off error by TU's Angela Osbon was followed by a single by Leslie. A sacrifice bunt by Fox advanced both runners. A check-swing by Keiter put the ball in play, where TU's Kelly Miller picked up the ball and tagged pinch runner Jade Prather trying to score from third. Genow then got another grounder to end the inning.
The Hurricane posted nine hits off Keiter, the NCAA West Regional MVP last season and USA Elite Team member. Keiter was allowing only 2.5 hits per outing coming into the contest. Walkingstick, Sliepen and Galloway posted a pair of hits, each. Torres and Shafer picked up the Hurricane's other three hits.
Genow struck out four OU batters while allowing only one walk in her sixth complete game effort of the season. The win was the Moore, Okla. Native's fifth consecutive victory of the season and the second consecutive win over the Sooners.
Tulsa will travel to Stillwater, Okla., on Thursday, March 24, for its third game of the season against the Cowgirls. TU and OSU played each other at Tucson, Ariz., and in Tulsa. Tulsa won both of the earlier meetings. After the game in Stillwater, the two teams will face each other again at The Border War in Fayetteville, Ark., on March 29.
