Head Coach John Bargfeldt and the Golden Hurricane will be making their second trip to an NCAA Regional in three seasons. Tulsa will face Arkansas on Friday evening in a first round contest in Norman.

May 11, 2008

Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa has accomplished another first in 2008. The Golden Hurricane has earned its first-ever at-large bid to the 64-team field. Tulsa will play Arkansas at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 16, at the OU Softball Complex in Norman. Oklahoma and Oregon will face off in the other first-round match-up at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

"We are excited to get this opportunity," said TU Head Coach John Bargfeldt. "We are looking forward for the chance to compete at a regional. It is nice to stay close to home, giving our fans a better chance to watch us play as well."

Tulsa ended the regular season by winning 13 of its final 17 games, before getting upset in the first round of the Conference USA Championship. The Golden Hurricane is one of four C-USA teams to earn a regional bid this season. UCF won the automatic bid with a 4-2 win over Houston in the Championship finale on Saturday. Houston is the NCAA's No.8 overall seed and hosting a regional. East Carolina also earned a spot in the field after getting snubbed last season.

"We set a goal, as a team, with three weeks to go to finish strong," said Bargfeldt. "Not only did we want to finish strong for the conference race, but we also wanted a strong finish to but us in a position for a possible at large bid."

The Hurricane is led by sophomore Lauren Lindsay's .360 batting average and Conference USA leading 22 doubles. Senior Sara Dyer owns several school records, in addition to a .341 batting average on the season. Her 19 doubles are the third most in C-USA this year as well.

In the pitching circle, TU is led by All-C-USA Second-Team selection Jordan Kinard. The freshman has posted a 14-6 on the season, including a pair of no-hitters. Her 12-0 no-no of Southern Miss was the first time in program history for a TU hurler to throw a no-hitter during a league contest. Kinard's 141 strikeouts on the year are the most for a TU rookie as well.