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Tulsa
Illinois (Getterman Classic)
Bargfeldt Era Starts on Positive Note
2/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 11, 2006
Illinois Box Score | Wichita State Box Score
Waco, Texas - The University of Tulsa softball team started the 2006 campaign on a positive note with a pair of shut out victories in the form of a 2-0 win over Illinois and a 4-0 win over Wichita State in the Getterman Classic hosted by Baylor University. Due to rain and wet field conditions in Waco on Friday, the first day of the tournament was cancelled.
Tulsa broke open the scoreless game in the third against the Illini, as junior Lindsay Galloway opened the stanza with an infield single. After a sacrifice bunt advanced Galloway to second, senior Julie Shafer recorded the first RBI of the season with a single to right field. Fellow senior Katie Torres followed with a single, giving the Golden Hurricane runners at the corners. However a pair of quick outs thwarted the rally.
The Fighting Illini tried to mount a come back in the bottom of the fourth. IU's Angelena Mexicano led off the inning with a walk. Following a sacrifice, a fielding error by the Hurricane allowed the Illini to have runners at second and third. However, TU starter Julie Fennell forced a pop-up and a ground out to end the inning without a run scored.
TU added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as junior Angela Osbon opened the inning with a single to right field. Freshman Stephanie Chomicki entered the game for the Hurricane to run for Osbon. She promptly stole second base. A one-out single by Galloway scored Chomicki from second to seal the win.
Fennell picked up the win for the Hurricane by scattering four hits and striking out five Illini.
"I thought we played a pretty clean game against Illinois," said head coach John Bargfeldt. "Any time they had runners in scoring position we got either clutch pitching or defensive plays to end the threat."
In the nightcap, the Hurricane scored first in the second inning. After working out of a jam in the top half of the stanza, junior Kelli McGlasson led off the TU half with a single through the right side. Following a sacrifice bunt advanced her to second, McGlasson scored on an Osbon single to left center.
Tulsa hung a three-spot in the third inning as well. Freshman Brooke Smart led the inning off with a walk, followed by a single by Shafer. A failed force play on a grounder by Torres loaded the bases with no outs for the Hurricane. Sophomore Sara Dyer unloaded the bases with a two-run single that scored Smart and Shafer. McGlasson recorded an RBI on another failed fielder's choice as the Shockers threw the ball to third base when no runner was advancing. Torres scored on the play for Tulsa's final run of the day.
In a game that mirrored its opener, the Hurricane again got clutch defensive plays and clutch pitching. In the top of the third, following a lead off single and stolen base by WSU's Erin Peters, Smart tracked down a fly ball in left field by making an over-the-shoulder catch at the warning track forcing the runner to stay at second and protecting a 1-0 lead. In the sixth inning, the Shockers used a double, catcher's interference and a walk to load the bases, however TU starter Maren Genow was able to force a ground ball to end the inning.
Genow picked up her 49th career win to tie the school record, by scattering five hits and striking out four Shocker batters.
"I was really pleased with the way we played in both games today," said Bargfeldt. "Our heads were in the game, making good decisions and having a positive attitude. The pitchers executed well, the both kept the ball out of the middle and hit the corners well. The defense executed when we needed it to and of course the offense came on when we needed it as well."
Tulsa will conclude the tournament on Sunday with a pair of contests. The Hurricane will play Illinois at 11 a.m., then face host Baylor at 3 p.m.
