Tulsa
Southern Miss
Softball Falls in Series Finale at USM, 4-3
3/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 9, 2008
Hattiesburg, Miss. - The University of Tulsa softball team could not overcome three fielding errors that led to three unearned runs in a 4-3 loss to Southern Miss on Sunday. The Golden Eagles were able to salvage a split in the series to even their record to 12-12 on the season. TU is also at .500 on the year at 11-11 overall, 2-1 in Conference USA play.
Southern Miss opened the scoring a pair of runs in the first two innings. In the first a walk, followed by a passed ball, followed by a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt attempt, followed by a wild pitch gave USM the early 1-0 lead before an out was even registered. The Eagles used an RBI single through the left side of the infield after a one-out walk, a passed ball and a wild pitch put the runner at third base.
Freshman Jordan Kinard was able to hold USM scoreless in the third and fourth innings, which allowed TU to tie the score at 2-2 in the third. Junior Stephanie Chomicki opened the third with a walk, followed by a double by sophomore Lauren Lindsay, her 11th on the year. With Chomicki on third, TU's first run came on a wild pitch. Lindsay was thrown out at the plate on a grounder that allowed fellow sophomore Christian Timmons to reach on the fielder's choice. After senior Sara Dyer drew a walk to give TU a pair of baserunners, sophomore Vanessa Vice singled to centerfield which allowed Timmons to score from second base.
Tulsa posted two singles in the fourth with one down, however could not advance either runner. A double play also killed a TU rally in the fifth inning. Building off the momentum of the double-play, USM retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a walk and back-to-back singles.
TU was able to tie the score at 3-3 in the top of the seventh. Lindsay hit a two-out single through the right side. After freshman Lauren Menke came in to run for Lindsay, Timmons drew a walk. A single by Dyer scored Menke from second base, however Timmons was thrown out in a rundown at third to end the inning.
USM opened the bottom of the seventh with a triple to right field. After a ground out back to the pitcher on the next batter, TU threw the ball away allowing the runner at third to score.
Sophomore Jackie Lawrence, who just nine pitches in relief of Kinard, was saddled with the loss. Kinard pitched six innings for the Hurricane, striking out eight Eagle batters. Offensively, TU pounded out eight hits, led by two each from Lindsay and Dyer. Dyer also hit her 11th double of the season, with one in the first inning.
Tulsa will step out of C-USA play on Wednesday with a single game at Oklahoma State, scheduled for 7 p.m. at Cowgirl Field. The Golden Hurricane will return to the friendly confines of the Donna J. Hardesty complex on Saturday, March 15, for a three-game series with UTEP.
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