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Tulsa
East Carolina (C-USA)
Golden Hurricane Fights Back for 7-6 Victory
4/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 9, 2006
Box Score
Tulsa, Okla. - The theme first year Head Coach John Bargfeldt has tried to install this season has been "What's next?" He has tried to make sure his players don't get too low after a bad play or too high after a great one. Apparently it works.
The University of Tulsa softball team showed that they are fast learners on Sunday afternoon, with a dramatic 7-6 victory over East Carolina at the Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex before a crowd of 208.
After the speaker system blew during the starting line ups, TU starter Julie Fennell hit two consecutive batters in the first inning. That might have signaled a long afternoon for the Golden Hurricane. However the junior left-hander settled down and retired eight consecutive batters before giving up her first walk, in the fourth inning. The Pirates did not register a hit until after the second out of the fourth stanza. Freshman Jessica Johnson earned the walk, and then moved to second on sophomore Paige Baggett's single. Junior Jessica Potter loaded the bases for ECU with a walk. Johnson scored the first run of the day on a wild pitch, before Fennell could get out of the inning with a strikeout.
Tulsa quickly tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Kelli McGlasson dropped a single into right field and then scored on a triple by sophomore Lindsey Tower with one out. However, Preseason Conference USA Pitcher of the Year Keli Harrell got out of the jam with a pair of foul outs.
While ECU threatened again in the fifth, Fennell was able to pitch out of the rally without giving up a run. The sixth inning was a different story. Sophomore Beth Nolan led off the stanza with her second home run of the season, a solo shot to left field. Potter then singled to left with one out, followed by a sacrifice bunt. Senior Ashley Quick reached on a TU error, allowing pinch runner Sarah Bibee to score. Freshman Vanessa Moreno hit her third home run of the season with a two-run dinger over the center field fence for a 4-1 Pirate lead. Back-to-back singles by Erin St. Ledger, Saturday's hero for ECU, and Krista Jessup, scored Quick and forced TU to make a pitching change. With two outs, Johnson appeared to have hit ECU's second home run of the inning that would have given ECU an 8-1 lead. However the third base umpire ruled the ball did not go over the foul pole it went to the left of it, making it just a long foul ball. Freshman Katie Lee would get Johnson to strike out on the next pitch to end the inning and keep the margin at 5-1.
TU would prove they were still fighters as senior Katie Torres drew a lead off walk. Sophomore Sara Dyer breathed new life in to the Tulsa dugout with a two-run homer to centerfield, cutting the deficit to 5-3.
The Pirates extended the lead to 6-3 in the top of the seventh, as sophomore Paige Baggett singled through the left side with one out. She would score from first when Osbon back pedaled too far and interfered with Tower trying to make a diving catch that would have ended the inning.
Needing some magic, the Hurricane bats responded in the bottom of the seventh. Junior Lindsay Galloway led off the stanza with an infield single. Freshman Brooke Smart followed with a hot shot that ricocheted off the ECU shortstop. Following a pop up, Torres followed with a third infield single to load the bases. Dyer's grounder to second first appeared to be headed to right field, but a great stop by Baggett robbed Dyer of a hit. However, the play was hard enough to score Galloway. With two strikes against her and two outs, McGlasson was able to pop a single right between the second baseman and right fielder to score Smart and pinch runner Stephanie Chomicki for the tying runs. After nearly striking out, McGlasson then tried to steal second. She was safe after Quick could not handle the throw from Jessup. Freshman Jessica Barr then lined a double to left center, scoring McGlasson for the game winner.
Tulsa (26-13, 11-4) now retains the top spot in the C-USA standings, with a game lead over Marshall and UAB. ECU falls to 29-18, failing to become the league's first 30-game winner this season. Lee gets the win moving to 5-2 on the season, with Harrell now 17-12.
The Hurricane continues its home stand with a non-conference doubleheader against Wichita State at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12th. Fans with a canned food item will receive a $2 discount off their ticket. Proceeds will help the Tulsa Food Bank.
