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Tulsa
Nebraska (Best Western Airport-Tulsa Festival)
Tulsa Splits at Best Western Airport Festival
3/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 4, 2006
SFA Box Score | Nebraska Box Score
Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa needed extra innings, but prevailed for the 11 time this season with an 8-6 victory over Stephen F. Austin in its first game of the day at the Best Western Airport Festival on Saturday. Nationally ranked Nebraska utilized speed and pitching to defeat TU, 5-2, in the nightcap.
Tulsa took an early lead over the Lumberjacks on a solo home run by senior Katie Torres in the first inning. SFA took the lead in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run homer by Tara Hersey.
In the third, TU was able to tie the score at 2-2. After a fly out to open the inning, senior Julie Shafer and Torres drew walks. Sophomore Sara Dyer also drew a walk to load the bases. A single through the left side by junior Kelli McGlasson scored Shafer for the tying run.
The Hurricane retook the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Freshman Stephanie Chomicki reached on a fielding error then went to third on a double by freshman Brooke Smart. A single to rightfield by Shafer scored Chomicki. Smart would score from second on hit when the ball skipped under the right fielder's glove.
SFA tied the score at 4-4 with another two-run homer, this time by Lee Lara. The game remained tied until the top of the seventh. Dyer led off the TU half with a triple to right field. Freshman Jessica Barr singled to left center to score Dyer giving TU a 5-4 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, SFA scored a runner from second on a sharply hit grounder to second. Chomicki was able to dive for the ball and stop it, throw the batter out at first for the second out of the inning. However, the Lumberjack base runner was running the whole way and easily scored the tying run and sending the game into extra innings.
In the extra frame, TU scored three runs thanks to a pair of homeruns by Smart and Torres. Down 8-5, the Lumberjacks tried to mount a rally. With the International Tie Breaker in effect and a runner on second, Sydney Davis singled to left field to give SFA a pair of runners. A fielding error by Lindsay Galloway allowed one run to score, however when a second runner tried to score, she was thrown out at the plate on a throw from Smart in left field.
Smart was the big hitter for TU in the contest recording three hits, two runs and two RBIs. Torres and Barr also recorded two hits apiece for the Hurricane. Senior Maren Genow picked up her sixth win of the season by pitching two innings in relief of TU starter Katie Lee.
In the nightcap, Galloway had a solo homer in the third inning to cut into a 2-0 lead by Nebraska. The Hurricane tried to rally from a 5-1 deficit in the seventh inning by scoring a run and a having a pair of runners with only one out. After a one-out walk by Shafer, Torres double to left field. A single by Dyer would score Shafer and give TU runners at the corners. However, the Cornhuskers would be able to pitch out of the threat and take a 5-2 victory. TU stranded 10 base runners in the contest.
Smart was again the hot bat for the Hurricane with two hits, including a double. Shafer, Torres, Dyer, McGlasson, Galloway and senior Kelly Miller all posted hits for TU as well.
Tulsa will conclude the tournament on Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest against Kansas.
