Boxscore I Boxscore II

MONROE ? The Lady Techster softball team finished the Louisiana-Monroe Mardi Gras Classic 2-2 and placed three on the All Tournament team. The Techsters were 1-1 at the end of day three of the tournament.

In game one, sophomore second baseman Rochelle Sandberg (All Tournament selection) went 3 for 3 with a homerun to lead Tech (4-7) to a 6-4 victory over Eastern Illinois. Sandberg also picked up two RBIs.

The Techsters totaled nine hits in the win. Junior outfielder Ashley Cameron contributed three hits and one RBI, and freshman outfielder Danielle Sheridan (All Tournament selection) registered two RBIs.

?Just like in the last game when we faced E. Illinois, we jumped out to a good start offensively, but we had to keep pushing because we knew they were a team that had the ability to make a comeback,? said head coach Sarah Dawson.

Dawson said one of the biggest differences in the game today and Friday?s game was the Techsters? strong defense.

?Had we have played defensively like we did today, we would?ve had a different outcome when we faced E. Illinois before. Each team gets 21 outs, and when we commit errors, we simply give the other team extra outs,? she said. ?Division I softball teams are too good for us to give them any kind of advantage. We have to learn to compete for seven innings.?

Freshman pitcher Courtney Avery (1-2) picked up her first win of the season, allowing eight hits and three runs in 5.1 innings of work. Freshman Krissi Oliver (1-3) was credited with her first save of the season after pitching 1.2 innings, allowing one hit and one run.

The Techsters didn?t have much success, however, in game two as they lost 1-5 to I-20 rivals ULM Lady Indians.

?Our entire approach energy wise wasn?t where it needed to be in the second game. We have to learn to play two complete games 100 percent,? Dawson said.

The lone run came in the fourth inning when sophomore third baseman Lianne Albert singled to right center. Sophomore outfielder Sandy Carroll pinch ran for Albert and scored on a triple by junior catcher Christine Echols.

Avery was credited with the loss, allowing five hits, three runs and one walk in 2.1 innings. Oliver pitched 2.2 innings, allowing three hits, two runs and three walks.

Sophomore catcher Regan Clark joined Sandberg and Sheridan on the All Tournament team.

The Techsters return to action in the first home game of the 2006 season when they host ULM at 6 p.m. Wednesday.