TULSA, Okla. – Crucial hits evaded the Fighting Leatherneck offense as Western Illinois fell 8-0 in five innings to No. 21/20 Tulsa on Monday (March 10).

“We just need that big hit,” said head coach Holly Van Vlymen. “We need to focus and put ourselves in whatever situation they do best in. It'll come though. In any season there are peaks and valleys and they're still good hitters getting good at bats, they just need to get one through the infield.”

Western recorded seven hits over five innings, leaving seven runners on base and a runner at third on three occasions.

After scoring on a wild pitch in the first, Tulsa jumped in front 5-0 on a pair of two-run home runs in the third, chasing starter Hailey Bickford from the game. Tulsa added to its advantage off of Kayla Kirkpatrick in the same inning, taking a 6-0 lead into the fourth.

The Golden Hurricane wrapped up their scoring in the fourth on another two-run home run.

Trailing 8-0, Karissa Kouchis and Sammy Marshall singled to lead off the inning, but were stranded at second and third.

Bickford (2-3) was tagged with the loss. Marshall was three-for-three at the plate with two singles and a double. Lia Romeo, Holly Hoelting, Nina Maggio and Kouchis all picked up singles as well.

Western Illinois and Tulsa will meet again Tuesday (March 11) at 3 p.m.

“I told them after the game this wasn't us,” Van Vlymen said. “We were flat and we didn't play the game we usually play. We just need to come back tomorrow and play how we did over the weekend.”