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Tulsa
Houston (gm 1)
Golden Hurricane Splits with No. 9 Houston
4/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 19, 2008
Tulsa, Okla.- - For the sixth time this season, The University of Tulsa softball team took on the No. 9 team in the country this year. Three of those games have taken place at the friendly confines of Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex. This time it was Houston ranked ninth nationally to visit Tulsa. The Cougars won the opening game of the Conference USA series with TU, 10-2 in six innings. The Golden Hurricane bounced back in the nightcap for a 1-0 shutout victory before a crowd of 326.
Houston broke open a scoreless game in the opening contest with a solo homerun in the top of the third. TU took the lead in the bottom of the inning, as senior Lindsey Tower singled through the right side with one out. She then beat the throw to second base on a grounder by junior Stephanie Chomicki, when UH tried to get throw out the lead runner. Sophomore Lauren Lindsay then hit a grounder that got threw the legs of Houston's second baseman, allowing Tower to score from second base. Then the UH rightfielder overthrew third base trying to throw out Chomicki, allowing her to score the go-ahead run.
Houston (39-7) made quick work of the deficit, scoring two runs in the top of the fourth on a two-out, two-strike home run. The Cougars would also add two runs in the fifth and five more in the sixth for the final margin.
Sophomore Jackie Lawrence took the loss in the circle for the Hurricane, while Tower and sophomore Vanessa Vice posted TU's two hits on the game.
Senior Sara Dyer, TU's career hit leader and finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, posted the winning run for the Hurricane on a wild pitch. Freshman Jordan Kinard picked up her fourth shutout of the season by striking out five Cougars in a complete game effort.
It is the second time this season Tulsa has defeated a team ranked ninth at home. Earlier this year, TU (24-19) defeated Oklahoma, 5-3, when the Sooners were ranked ninth.
The two teams will conclude their series with a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday afternoon at the Hardesty Complex.
