Golden Hurricane Falls 4-1 in C-USA Finals

Starter Jordan Kinard had a rough few innings, and TU could not recover.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:24 pm

By: News On 6

Golden Hurricane Falls 4-1 in C-USA Finals

Originally Published: May 14, 2011 1:36 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Tulsa softball team fell one win shy of a conference championship with a 4-1 loss to East Carolina in the Conference-USA finals Saturday.

Jordan Kinard started on the mound for TU (43-13), and she immediately got into trouble. Three singles in the first inning loaded the bases, and then Kinard walked Priscilla Velasquez to bring home the game’s first run.

Kinard managed to get out of that jam with only one run allowed, but Velasquez made her pay again in the third inning. Velasquez stepped to the plate with two outs and two runners on base, and launched a three-run home run to left field. TU pulled Kinard after that, but the damage had been done.

The Hurricane got on the board in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a solo home run by Kelly Chapman, but that ended up being one of only three hits they mustered all game.

Toni Paisley pitched a complete game for ECU (39-20) and allowed only four base runners all day. She struck out eight of the 27 batters she faced and came away with a win. Kinard finished with a loss after allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in only three innings.

The Golden Hurricane now will have to wait to hear its fate in the NCAA Tournament. ESPN will televise the tournament selection show at 9 p.m. Sunday, and the NCAA Regional will begin on May 19.