Feb. 15, 2008

Box Score

MONROE -- Louisiana Tech committed two errors and they both proved costly as the Lady Techsters fell 3-2 to Central Arkansas Friday morning at the UL-Monroe Mardi Gras Classic.

A throwing error by catcher Regan Clark led the UCA's first run in the second inning and then a mishandled bunt attempt by pitcher Krissi Oliver in the fourth led to two more unearned runs as Tech fell to 3-4 on the season.

The unearned runs ruined a nice pitching performance by Oliver, who fell to 1-3 on the year despite allowing only seven hits and one walk and no earned run in 6.0 innings of work against the Sugar Bears (1-5).

With the game tied at zero, UCA struck with two outs in the bottom of the second. Janae Owens led the frame off with a double and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. After a harmless ground out led to the second out of the inning, Oliver issued her only walk of the game to Courtney Brock.

Brock then stole second and Clark threw the ball into the outfield attempting to catch Owens leaning off of third base, giving UCA a 1-0 lead.

Tech tied the game in the top of the third inning. After a one-out single by junior Emma Barnes, sophomore Danielle Sheridan ripped a double to right centerfield scoring Barnes with the game-tying run.

The game remained 1-1 until the bottom of the fourth when UCA struck for two more unearned runs. Owens led the frame off with a single before Kayla Hitchcock reached first on a fielding error by Oliver.

After a sacrifice bunt moved them to second and third, Oliver enduced a harmless ground out back to the mound for the second out of the frame. However, Hannah Ambrose singled home both Owens and Hitchcock to give UCA a 3-1 lead.

Tech struck for one in the top of the sixth inning. Amberly Waits tripled to start the inning off and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Clark, making the score 3-2. Oliver followed with a single and Jessica Kirby followed with a double, putting runners on second and third with one out.

However, Kylie Bassett struck out and Summer Young grounded out to second to end the Tech threat.

Tech once again threatened in the seventh inning when Barnes doubled with one out and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. However, Lyndsey Harris got Waits to pop up for the final out of the game.

Barnes, Waits and Oliver led Tech's 10-hit attack with two hits each.