Freshman Jessica Stoelke singled in game one of the doubleheader at Houston Monday.

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Softball Drops Two at Houston Monday

Golden Hurricane falls 4-0 and 7-0

March 16, 2009

Box Score | Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

HOUSTON - The University of Tulsa softball team dropped both games of a Conference USA doubleheader at Houston on Monday afternoon, losing 4-0 and 7-0 at Cougar Softball Stadium.

The Golden Hurricane falls to 15-8 overall and 3-2 in C-USA play, while Houston improves to 11-11 overall and 3-2 in league play. This is the first time since 2005 that Tulsa has been shut out in two consecutive conference games and three straight overall.

"We played tight and tentative, and when you do that against a good team, you tend to lose in all phases of the game," Tulsa Head Coach John Bargfeldt said.

He said the extra two-day layoff because of the heavy rains and soaked field may have played a small role in the team's performance Monday, but he and his team were not looking to make any excuses.

"We're disappointed that we didn't come out and play like we have most of the year. We've had a couple of games where we played tentative, and today was one of those days. It's a long season and you're going to run into some games like this, and hopefully you'll put it behind you - and soon - and tackle the next situation and not let it linger."

Tulsa has the chance to move on quickly, as it plays at 16th-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Ragin' Cajuns Softball Complex. From there, it continues the 10-day road trip with a game at Centenary in Shreveport at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, followed by a contest at Louisiana-Monroe Thursday at 6 p.m. in Monroe, La. The Hurricane closes the trip with a C-USA weekend series at Memphis.

Houston is a better team than its record suggests, returning seven letterwinners and two All-Americans from its 2008 C-USA Championship team that advanced to the Super Regional. Cougar pitcher Amanda Crabtree (7-6) earned the win in both games, and the first was on the strength of a no-hitter she took into the seventh inning, along with 10 strikeouts.

Tulsa freshman center fielder Jessica Stoelke broke up the no-hitter with a one-out single through the left side in the top of the seventh. The Hurricane was unable to mount a late rally, however, and fell, 4-0.

Junior right fielder Lauren Lindsay walked to lead off the game, but Tulsa would not get another runner on base until the fifth inning, as Houston retired 12 batters in a row. The Golden Hurricane led off the fifth with two walks, but the next three batters got out. One of the outs was a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners to second and third, but TU was unable to get either runner home.

Sophomore pitcher Jordan Kinard (4-3) received the loss in game one, throwing 6.0 innings, and allowing seven hits, most of which were scattered throughout the game and four earned runs, three of which came on a home run in the fourth inning.

In the second contest, Tulsa got base runners in each of the second, third and fourth innings, but again, could not push runs across the plate. In the fourth, the Golden Hurricane loaded the bases with two singles by junior first baseman Vanessa Vice and senior left fielder Brooke Smart, and a walk by sophomore designated player Lauren Menke. However, with two outs, senior third baseman Stephanie Chomicki hit a hard line drive just above the third baseman, who did not even have time to get all the way out her stance, and could only reach her glove up and catch the ball, ending the potential rally. After Tulsa loaded the bases, Houston retired the next 11 batters to end the Hurricane's offensive day.

Houston scored one run in each of the first, third and fifth innings, and put up four in the sixth to take the second game, 7-0. Baillie Lott started the second game for Houston and pitched 3.1 innings, allowing three hits, two walks and two strikeouts. She was lifted after TU loaded the bases in the fourth inning, in favor of Crabtree who shut down the Tulsa bats once again. Senior Katie Lee (4-3) received the loss, giving up 12 hits and five earned runs in 5.0 innings. Junior Jackie Lawrence came on in the relief in the sixth with four runs already home and recorded three straight outs.

The Golden Hurricane plays at #16 Louisiana-Lafayette Tuesday at 6 p.m. Following Tuesday's contest, Tulsa will travel to Shreveport, La., to play Centenary at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and then to Monroe, La., to take on Louisiana-Monroe at 6 p.m. Thursday, before closing the road trip with a weekend series at Memphis.

Tickets for TU softball home games are $6 for adults and $4 for youth high school and younger, and can be purchased in person at the TU Athletics Ticket Office, by calling (918) 631-GoTU, or on the web by visiting www.TulsaHurricane.com.