TULSA, Okla. - The University of Hawai`i softball team dropped a pair of Western Athletic Conference games against Tulsa today at the Donna J. Hardesty Softball Complex.

Both UH's Melissa Coogan (8-13) and TU's Maren Genow (17-3) were locked in a pitcher's duel in game one.

It was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when the Golden Hurricane tacked on two runs as Katie Torres led off the inning with a single. Kelly Miller then doubled home Torres on a shot to left center, advancing to third on the throw. Stephanie Sliepen then lifted a sacrifice fly to right driving in Miller.

UH finally got to Genow in the sixth when April Crowell got aboard on a bunt single and was pinch-ran for by Tara Harbert. Tyleen Tausaga's ground out on the right side of the infield advanced Harbert to second. A passed ball moved her to third where she scored on Stacey Ritter's single up the middle.

In game two, UH scored in the top of the first as Tracie Uchima led off with a double to centerfield, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Denise Dahlberg's single to center off TU starter Julie Fennell (7-3).

However, Tulsa responded in the bottom of the first off UH starter Paula Blanning (1-3) with a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead. The Golden Hurricane loaded the bases on a bunt single, fielder's choice, and a walk before UH second baseman Noelle Izumi couldn't handle a ball of the bat of Julie Schafer scoring two unearned runs.

The Rainbow Wahine tied the score in the second when both Ritter and Izumi singled. Two batters later Uchima drew a walk to load the bases. Dahlberg's grounder to third was misplayed allowing Ritter to score to knot it up at two apiece.

In the third, Blanning allowed a leadoff double to Miller before retiring the next two batters on a groundout and popup. Lindsay Galloway then hit a sharp single to right moving Miller to third where she scored on Angela Osbon's single to left. LeeAnne Pepper pinch-hit for Holly Reynolds and came up with a RBI single down to right scoring Galloway and moving Osbon to second. That single chased Blanning as Shannon Tabion entered the game from the bullpen. After both runners moved up on a passed ball, Tabion got Heather Hiar on a come-backer to get out of the inning without further damage.

TU added another run in the fourth on a solo homer by Miller, her sixth of the season to make it a three-run game.

UH mounted a come-back in the sixth when they loaded the bases with only one out, but Genow was brought on from the bullpen to snuff out the threat as she struckout both Justina Kahaku and Uchima to pick up her fourth save.

TU's Torres hit a solo shot in the sixth to cap the scoring, 6-2, in favor of Tulsa in game two.

Blanning suffered the loss lasting only 2.2 innings while Tabion went the rest of the way in relief.

Hawai`i falls below the .500 mark at 23-24 and are 5-5 in WAC play. Tulsa improves to 35-15 on the season and are in second place in the WAC at 8-3.

The two teams complete the four-game set Monday at noon HST.