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Tulsa
Wichita State (gm 2)
Lawrence's Walk-Off Homerun Earns Split with Shockers
4/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 30, 2008
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Tulsa, Okla. - Sophomore Jackie Lawrence recorded her second and third hits of the season, however, the third hit will be remembered for a very long time. In only her 18th at-bat on the season, Lawrence hit a walk-off home run with two on-base for a 5-2 Tulsa victory over Wichita State. The Shockers won the first game of the doubleheader, 5-2 at the Donna J. Hardesty Sports Complex. Tulsa improves to 31-22 on the year, with Wichita State falling to 31-25 on the season.
In the first game, WSU scored a run in the second inning and two more on a pair of unearned runs in the third inning. After another run in the top of the fifth inning, Tulsa cut into the deficit with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. After a single by junior Stephanie Chomicki, sophomore Lauren Lindsay hit her 14th home run of the season to make the score 4-2.
Junior Katie Lee relieved Lawrence in the top of the sixth, shutting down the Shockers in order. Tulsa appeared to have regained the momentum as sophomore Vanessa Vice drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the frame. A sacrifice bunt by junior Brooke Smart advanced Vice to second base. However a pair of strikeouts stranded Vice at second, the sixth runner left on base for the Golden Hurricane.
WSU scored another run in the top of the seventh after a TU fielding error led to a leadoff runner. Sophomore Christian Timmons singled to left field with two outs trying to spark a TU rally in the seventh, but that would be all TU would muster in the seventh.
Lawrence was tagged with the loss in the pitching circle for the Hurricane. She struck out four WSU batters in five innings of work. Lee struck out three batters during the final two innings. Lindsay and Chomicki accounted for TU's two hits in the game.
Timmons was bound to score a run on the day, as she hit her second home run of the season with a solo shot in the first inning. Freshman Jordan Kinard retired the first 11 batters of the contest, as WSU did not record a hit until two out in the fourth inning. After breaking up the no-hitter bid, the Shockers loaded the bases with two down. Kinard ended the threat with a strikeout without giving up a run.
In the fifth, WSU led off the inning with a solo homerun to tie the game at 1-1. The Shockers then took the lead in the the top of the sixth on a pair of TU errors, with two outs.
Chomicki drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the sixth, allowing Lindsay one more at-bat. She returned the favor by collecting her nation-leading 22nd double of the year, allowing Chomicki to score the tying run. Lindsay would later get tagged out trying to score the go-ahead run, to end the inning.
A two-out double was all WSU could muster in the top of the seventh off Kinard. After a ground-out to start the inning for the Hurricane, Vice drew a full count walk. A single to centerfield by junior Kailey Yarmer gave TU a pair baserunners. Lawrence then took the third pitch she saw to centerfield for her first collegiate homerun, and the TU win.
Tulsa will conclude the regular season with a three-game series against Memphis, starting on Saturday at 1 p.m. Sunday's finale is set to begin at 12 p.m.
