Sept. 14, 2007

Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa softball squad opened its 2007 fall campaign with a pair of wins at the Tulsa Fall Festival. TU opened the event with a 7-1 victory over Connors State, at the Donna Ja. Hardesty Sports Complex on Friday, Sept 14. In the second game of the Festival, Rogers State defeated Connors State by a score of 11-1, setting up the evening's finale. In the nightcap the two undefeated teams squared off for the championship with TU prevailing 8-0.

In the first game, TU struck early with three runs in the first inning. Junior Stephanie Chomicki led off the inning with a walk for the Hurricane. She then scored on a double by sophomore Vanessa Vice. Senior Sara Dyer then recorded her first hit and RBI of the fall with a single to leftfield, scoring Vice from second base. Junior transfer Kailey Yarmer recorded TU's third consecutive hit of the inning when she doubled to right center, plating Dyer.

Tulsa would go on to score two runs in the third and fourth innings when Dyer and Junior Brooke Smart recorded RBIs to complete the scoring for the game. Junior Katie Lee threw four innings, striking out four, while giving up only one earned run. Freshman Lauren Menke pitched the final three innings to record a save while not allowing a run on one hit.

The championship game started in a similar fashion with TU scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Freshman Kelly Chapman recorded a key two-out three-run double to right centerfield that jumpstarted the Hurricane offense.

That was more than enough support for the TU pitching combination of sophomore Jackie Lawrence and freshman Jordan Kinard. Lawrence started the contest, throwing four innings of no-hit softball, while striking out four and walking one. Kinard pitched the final three innings, allowing only an infield single and striking out six to record the save.