March 15, 2008

Box Score

Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa softball team used 15 hits on the day to take a pair of Conference USA contests from league-leading UTEP, 5-1 and 6-4. Saturday's doubleheader was witnessed by 156 fans at the Donna J. Hardestey Sports Complex on the TU campus. Tulsa improves to 13-11 overall on the season, 4-1 in league action. UTEP falls to 19-8 overall, 3-2 in C-USA play. The two teams will close out the three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m.

TU got the going early in the first game, scoring four runs in the first inning, then adding an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman Kelly Chapman had the big bat for TU, with a 2-for-2 performance that included her second home run of the season and three runs batted in. Sophomore Lauren Lindsay, senior Sara Dyer, juniors Kailey Yarmer and Brooke Smart also posted hits for the Hurricane.

Junior Katie Lee earned the win with a complete game, seven inning performance. She struck out six UTEP batters, while allowing five hits and two walks. UTEP entered the week as the leagues top hitting team with a batting average of .316. The Miners were averaging nearly nine hits per game and almost seven runs per game.

In the second game, both teams scored runs in the first. TU took the lead with a run in the second inning, only to see it evaporate in the top of the third. The Miners hit a two-run homer and a solo shot in the third inning for a 4-2 lead. Tulsa tied the game at 4-4 with two runs in the fourth, then took the lead for good with two more runs in the fifth inning.

Lindsay and Yarmer, along with senior Lindsey Tower all recorded two hits in the nightcap for the Hurricane. Dyer, as well as sophomore Vanessa Vice and junior Stephanie Chomicki also recorded hits for TU. Freshman Jordan Kinard pitched the first four innings in the circle for Tulsa, striking out three. Sophomore Jackie Lawrence threw the final three innings, also striking out three while not allowing a run to pick up her fifth win of the season.