Tulsa
Illinois (Getterman Classic)
Golden Hurricane Wins Getterman Classic
2/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 12, 2006
Illinois Box Score |Baylor Box Score
Waco, Texas - On a day where nothing seemed to go right, everything fell into place for The University of Tulsa softball team. Tulsa extended its winning streak to 12 games with a 8-7 win over Illinois in eight innings, before falling to Baylor in the last game of the tournament, 5-0. With a 3-1 record, TU earns the team tropy with three players being named to the all-tournament team. Seniors Maren Genow and Katie Torres and junior Kelli McGlasson earned spots on the all-tournament squad.
"I told the team that we are not always going to play perfectly," said TU Head Coach John Bargfeldt. "But we found a way to over come the mistakes. We were very happy with how they competed today, no matter if we were up or down, we kept competing."
The Golden Hurricane scored first against the Fighting Illini, with a pair of runs in the first inning. Senior Julie Shafer doubled down the left field line with one out, followed by a Torres walk. Freshman Sara Dyer and McGlasson posted back-to-back singles to score Shafer and Torres.
Illinois quickly tied the contest, however. The first five Illini batters reached base, including four singles, a double and a walk.
TU forged ahead once again with a pair of runs in the second inning. Senior Kelly Miller opened up the inning with a walk. Freshman Stephanie Chomicki attempted a sacrifice bunt to advance Miller, however was safe at first on an error by the IU first baseman. Sophomore Lindsey Tower doubled, scoring Miller. Chomicki, running closely behind Miller the whole way, was tagged out at the plate on the play. Tower was able to move to third on the throw home as well. She then scored on a ground out by Shafer.
After the teams traded scoring threats over the next three innings, the game remained a 4-2 contest until the bottom of the sixth. Following a fielding error by TU starter Julie Fennell, the Illini scored five runs on three hits including a grand slam.
Down three runs with only one at-bat left, the Hurricane mounted a near unbelievable come-back. Torres started the rally with a single up the middle. Freshman Brooke Smart recorded her first collegiate hit with a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 7-6. McGlasson followed the homer with her fourth hit of the game, a single through the right side.
Following an Illini pitching change, junior Lindsay Galloway was safe at first after an error on a sac bunt attempt. This time the throw went wide of first base, allowing McGlasson to run all the way to third. She would tie the game two batters later on a grounder by Miller.
Illinois led off the bottom of the seventh with a double down the left field line, however senior Maren Genow worked out of the jam without giving up a run.
In the eighth, Torres posted the game-winning RBI with a grounder to second base to score Tower.
McGlasson led TU with a 4-for-4 performance, with a run scored and a run batted in. She was also hit by a pitch in her fifth at-bat. Genow set a new mark for TU pitchers by becoming the first Hurricane hurler to win 50 games in her career, by picking up the win in relief.
In the nightcap, TU came out a little flat after sowing up the team championship with a Baylor loss in the previous game. The Bears held TU to two hits through the first five innings. BU also got help on the fourth pitch of the game with a home run to right field for a quick 1-0 lead.
The Bears broke open the game in the top of the sixth with four runs off freshman Katie Lee, making her first collegiate start. Lee did record a pair of strikeouts with out allowing a walk in the complete game effort.
Five Hurricane hitters posted hits in the contest, led by McGlasson with two singles.
