Feb. 23, 2008

Box Score

RUSTON - Amberly Waits two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning propelled Louisiana Tech to a 5-1 win over Southeastern Louisiana in the second game of a softball doubleheader at the Lady Techster Softball Complex Saturday.

Tech lost the first game 9-7 in nine innings after fighting back from an early 6-0 deficit.

After the Lady Lions (9-3) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game No. 2 on a Brooke Lockhart single to left field, the Lady Techsters answered. Danielle Sheridan singled up the middle with one out in the bottom of the third before Waits followed with a two-run home run to dead centerfield, giving Tech a 2-1 lead.

Tech (6-6) added two runs in the bottom of the third inning. After Krissi Oliver reached on an error, Kylie Bassett singled up the middle. After a Summer Young ground out, sophomore Jessica Kirby roped a two-out double to left centerfield, making the score 4-1.

Waits scored an insurance run for Tech in the bottom of the fourth inning. After reaching on an infield single and stealing second base, Waits scored on a throwing error by Southeastern shortstop Kady King.

Tech starter Mandi Bertsch (3-1) picked up the win, allowing only four hits, two walks, one earned run in 5.0 innings of work while striking out four.

Meghan Krieg and Wanda Malone each pitched a perfect inning in relief of Bertsch as the Techsters handed the Lady Lions only their third loss of the season.

Waits led Tech with three hits, two runs and two RBI while Clark added two hits and Kirby added two RBI.

In the first game of the day, Southeastern jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, scoring four runs in the top of the second and two more in the top of the fourth.

Lady Techster starter Krissi Oliver allowed three earned runs on three hits and three walks in only 1.0 inning of work before being pulled due to an injury she tried to pitch through. Oliver would make her impact offensively later in the game.

SLU pitcher Rachel Ray pitched three perfect innings to start the game, retiring all nine Tech batters in order. However, the Lady Techsters started to show some offense in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Emma Barnes led off with a single and then advanced to second base on a wild pitch. With one out, Waits singled to right field, scoring Barnes and making the score 6-1 through four innings.

Tech added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on solo home runs by Oliver and Bassett, each over the left field wall and cutting the Lady Lions lead to 6-3.

Barnes led the sixth off with a triple over the centerfielder's head and scored on Waits RBI single up the middle, cutting the lead to 6-4. With two outs, Oliver scorched a double off the centerfield wall scoring Waits and making the score 6-5.

Trailing by a run heading into their final at bat, Bassett led the bottom of the seventh off with a single. Pinch runner Sarah Offutt advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Young. After Elizabeth Franklin drew a one out walk, SLU made a pitching change as Jenna Yoder came on in relief.

Barnes grounded out to third base, advancing Offutt and Franklin. With two outs, Offutt scored the game-tying run on a passed ball. Sheridan popped out to the shortstop with the winning run on third base.

Neither team scored in the eighth inning despite starting the frames with a runner on second base and no outs.

SLU struck for three runs on three hits in the ninth to grab a 9-6 lead. Tech answered with one run - on an RBI groundout by Young - but the Lady Lions retired Franklin on a groundout to shortstop to end the game.

Jordan Simmons picked up the loss for Tech in relief, allowing six runs -- five earned -- on 10 hits in 8.0 innings of work. Simmons struck out five.

Waits, Barnes, Oliver and Bassett each registered two hits for Tech in the loss.

Tech returns to action Wednesday when the Lady Techsters travel to Lorman, Miss., to face Alcorn State in a doubleheader.