Tulsa
UCF (C-USA)
Golden Hurricane Victorious in C-USA Opener
3/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 14, 2006
Orlando, Fla. - The University of Tulsa softball team opened its Conference USA season on a positive note with a 7-1 victory over UCF on Tuesday at the UCF Softball Stadium. It was the first time Tulsa and UCF had faced off on the softball diamond.
TU scored first in the contest for the 15th time this season, winning 13 of those contests. The Golden Hurricane has also won eight of the nine contests in which it has scored in the first inning. Freshman Brooke Smart opened the contest with a double to center field. After senior Katie Torres drew a walk, sophomore Sara Dyer singled to right field to score Smart from second.
The Golden Knights quickly answered TU's score, however, with a single run in the bottom half of the inning. Junior Cici Alvarez led off the UCF half by drawing a walk, then was sacrificed over to second. A two-out single up the middle by fellow junior Kacie Feaster scored Alvarez from second base to tie the score, 1-1.
After TU could only manage a single in the top of the second, UCF threatened to take the lead with a pair of base runners. A lead-off single from freshman Breanne Javier was followed by a walk from sophomore Ashley Backer. A sacrifice bunt advanced both runners to second and third, however TU starter Maren Genow would be able to pitch out of the jam without surrendering a run.
TU took the lead for good with a trio of runs in the third inning. Smart again led off the stanza with a hit, a single to right centerfield. Senior Julie Shafer reached safely on an error by the UCF first baseman. Both she and Smart advanced a base on the errant throw. An intentional walk to Torres loaded the bases for the Hurricane. Dyer again came through with a hit, this time a two-run single through the left side, scoring Smart and Shafer. A ground-out from junior Kelli McGlasson scored Torres from third. Dyer was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a single from freshman Jessica Barr.
Tulsa loaded the bases again in the fourth inning on a pair of singles from Smart and Shafer, with Torres drawing her third walk of the afternoon. While the Hurricane did not score in the fourth, it added three more runs in the sixth, with the bases loaded for a third time on the day. Smart drew a one-out walk to start the rally, followed by a single by Shafer and another intentional walk for Torres. Dyer also drew a walk, for her fourth RBI on the day, scoring Smart. McGlasson recorded a second RBI off a ground out to score Shafer. Barr recorded her second hit of the day, with a single up the middle that allowed Torres to score the final run of the day.
UCF tried to mount a rally in the sixth with a pair of base runners at second and third with one down. However, Genow was able to pitch out of the jam once again to earn the complete-game victory. She improves to 8-3 on the season, with six strikeouts and two walks.
Smart led the TU hitters with a 3-for-4 performance and three runs scored. Dyer was one of four TU hitters to post two hits, including Shafer, Barr and junior Angela Osbon. Torres drew four walks on the day, scoring twice.
The Hurricane and Knights will conclude their series on Wednesday with a doubleheader set to begin at 12 Noon (CST).
