Tulsa Softball Splits Doubleheader With East Carolina

The Golden Hurricane lost the first game 1-0, but won the second 5-3.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:17 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Softball Splits Doubleheader With East Carolina

Originally Published: Mar 26, 2011 3:52 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Tulsa softball team split two games with East Carolina Saturday, with a 1-0 loss in game one and a 5-3 win in game two.

The first game of the day featured a seemingly never-ending pitchers’ duel. Starting pitchers Jordan Kinard Toni Paisley both pitched nine full innings of shutout softball, and the game stood scoreless going into the 10th.

Paisley came back out for the 10th inning and again shut down Tulsa, getting her 15th and 16th strikeouts of the game. The Golden Hurricane decided to replace Kinard with Lacey Middlebrooks in the bottom of the inning, and things immediately fell apart.

Middlebrooks walked three of the first four batters she faced to load the bases with one out, putting East Carolina in prime position to win the game. Kai Clark stepped to the plate and didn’t even need to deliver a hit; Middebrooks walked her too and brought in the game’s winning run.

Middlebrooks was credited with the loss after walking four batters and retiring only one. Kinard received a no-decision despite giving up eight hits and striking out nine in nine innings. Paisley earned the win, gave up only five hits and three walks while striking out 16.

The second game of the day started in totally opposite fashion. The Hurricane jumped out of the gates with four runs in the top of the first on only three hits.

Caitlin Everett scored the game’s first run when she stole home, and Samantha Cobb scored the second thanks to an ECU error. The Hurricane added two more unearned runs later in the inning for a quick 4-0 lead.

But East Carolina immediately responded in the bottom of the inning. Aimee Creger walked the first three batters she faced to load the bases with nobody out. Sissy Jimenez and Kai Clark each drove home a run with singles, and another walk with the bases loaded drove home a third run to cut the lead to 4-3.

The game seemed like it was going to turn into a shootout, from the first inning on the pitchers took over. Creger did not allow another hit for the rest of the day, and the Hurricane added one more insurance run in the fifth to seal the win.

TU’s loss in the first game ended a nine-game winning streak, but the Hurricane has won 14 of its last 16. The teams will complete their three-game series at 11 a.m. Sunday.