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Tulsa
UAB (DH)
TU Softball Opens C-USA Play with Two Wins
3/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 10, 2007
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa softball team opened defense of its Conference USA crown with a pair of league victories on the opening weekend of C-USA play. TU came from behind to defeat UAB 3-2 in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, followed by an 8-0 run-rule victory in the second game.
The Blazers got a solo home run in the first inning by Andrea Rogers for an early 1-0 lead. UAB added another run in the third inning when Kayla Harris was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Blazers threatened again in the fifth inning by loading the bases one more time, however senior Julie Fennell was able to get out of the jam with a called third strike to end the inning.
Fellow senior Angela Osbon led off the TU half of the fifth with her second home run of the season, a shot to left center. Tulsa picked up its final two runs in the sixth inning. Freshman Lauren Lindsay led off the inning with a walk, followed by another walk by junior Sara Dyer. The Blazers looked to regain control with a double-play, however pinch runner Lindsay Galloway was able to score from second on the play to tie the score. Senior Kelli McGlasson then reached on a high throw from across the diamond. She would score on a double to leftfield by freshman Ashlee Lubniewski.
Senior hurler Julie Fennell picked up the win after pitching 4.1 scoreless innings of relief. She struck out six Blazers while allowing only two hits. Freshman Jackie Lawrence started in the circle for the Hurricane, striking out four in 2.2 innings.
In the second game, Tulsa broke open a scoreless game with a pair of runs in the third inning. Junior Lindsey Tower reached safely to start the inning, followed by a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Stephanie Chomicki. Sophomore Brooke Smart drew a walk, as did junior Sara Dyer to load the bases with two outs. Freshman Vanessa Vice ripped a single up the middle to score Tower and Smart for a 2-0 TU lead.
The Hurricane added to its lead in the fourth inning with two more runs. Tower doubled to center field with two outs for the first TU baserunner of the inning. Chomicki walked, followed by a single by Smart that allowed Tower to score. Another single by Lindsay to leftfield allowed Chomicki to score the fourth run of the game, while Smart was tagged out at home trying to score a fifth.
After a pitching change to start the TU sixth inning, Osbon drew a full count walk to start the stanza. A double to right field by Tower gave TU a pair of baserunners. Chomicki then drew her second walk of the game to load the bases for the Hurricane. Smart who had been in a hitting funk prior to her previous at-bat delivered yet another two-strike, game-ending homerun with a grand slam to center field.
Sophomore Katie Lee picked up her fourth win of the season, second against UAB, by scattering four hits in the complete game effort. Tulsa improves to 14-10 on the year, while UAB falls to 14-11.
The two teams will conclude their series on Sunday, weather permitting. Game time for Sunday's finale has been moved to 11 a.m. to allow more possible time to play.
