Tulsa
Oklahoma State
Cowgirls End Tulsa's Winning Streak, 6-5
3/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 24, 2005
Stillwater, Okla. - The University of Tulsa softball team not only had to sit through over an hour long lightning delay, the Golden Hurricane had to sit through a lightning quick start by Oklahoma State. The Cowgirls scored six runs in the first two innings then held on for a 6-5 victory at Cowgirl Stadium. The meeting was the third of the season between the two squads, with TU winning the first two rounds.
Tulsa scored first for the 21st game this season, with a run in the top of the first. Freshman Lindsey Tower opened the contest by reaching first on a fielding error by OSU's Lacy Darity. After a sacrifice bunt by senior Stacey Walkingstick, fellow senior Stephanie Sliepen singled to give TU runners at the corners. Sliepen stole second, as Tower was able to score on an error by OSU's Tara Jeffery.
OSU's bats did not take long to get hot as Shantel Scott singled up the middle to begin the Cowgirl half inning. Shortstop Stephanie Nicholson followed with her seventh homerun to give OSU a 2-1 lead off TU starter Lindsey Dyer. Catcher Courtney Totte earned a walk, and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Jeffery reached on an error by TU's Lindsay Galloway. A triple to right center by OSU's Jessica Tweed allowed Totte and Jeffery to score, giving OSU a 4-1 lead. Junior Maren Genow relieved Dyer and closed out the inning.
After TU went down in order in the second inning, while OSU added two more runs. Darity walked to open the inning, and then went to second as Scott reached on an error by TU's Angela Osbon. Both runners would then score on a one-out double by Totte.
Tulsa began to cut into the Cowgirl lead in the third inning with a trio of runs. Junior Julie Shafer reached on an error by OSU's Dominique Van Nortwick. Walkingstick gave TU a pair of runners with a one-out single. Both runners would score on a double by Sliepen. Sliepen would score on a double by junior Katie Torres. Freshman Sara Dyer singled to left field, however Torres was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second.
TU threatened again in the fourth inning after back-to-back singles by Shafer and Tower. However, after an OSU pitching change, the Hurricane stranded both runners. Tulsa left six runners on base, including three runners at third base.
Sliepen opened the fifth inning with her first triple of the season. She would score on a sacrifice fly by Torres for TU's final run. Tower did open the seventh by getting hit by a pitch and Torres drew a two-out walk. However, the Hurricane could not score the tying run.
Dyer picks up her third loss of the season after allowing four runs in a third of an inning. Genow allowed only three hits in 5.2 innings, striking out a pair of OSU hitters in relief. Only four OSU runners reached base after Genow came into the game.
Sliepen led TU hitters with three hits, including a triple and a double. She also had two RBI and two runs scored. Tower, Walkingstick, Torres, Sara Dyer and Shafer also recorded hits for TU. Tulsa recorded nine hits overall, compared to five by the Cowgirls.
The two teams will meet again next Tuesday as part of The Border War at Lady' Back Yard in Fayetteville, Ark. TU and OSU will play at 3 p.m., followed by OSU and Arkansas at 5 p.m. The Hurricane will then face former TU head coach James Pinkerton and his Lady Razorbacks at 7 p.m. Both TU games can be heard on tulsahurricane.com with Bruce Howard calling the action.
