Feb. 27, 2008

Box Score

LORMAN, Miss. - After a disappointing 3-1 loss in the first game of a doubleheader, Louisiana Tech rebounded for an 11-2 win in five innings over Alcorn State in the second game at Lady Braves Softball Field.

Tech (7-7) banged out a season-high 15 hits in support of freshman hurler Meghan Krieg (2-0), who picked up her second win of the season. Krieg allowed only two hits - coming to the first two batters of the game - two runs, one earned, while striking out four in 4.0 innings of action.

The Lady Techsters jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Emma Barnes led off with an infield single and then scored on Amberly Waits triple to centerfield, giving Tech a 1-0 lead. Regan Clark then singled up the middle scoring Waits.

Krissi Oliver singled and then with two outs, Kylie Bassett drove home two with a single to centerfield as the Techsters grabbed a 4-0 lead.

Alcorn State scored in the bottom of the first inning on a single and triple before Krieg retired the next three batters to get out of the jam.

Tech made the score 5-1 in the second as Barnes scored on a two-out error by Alcorn State.

The Lady Techsters added two more runs in the third inning. Bassett singled and then Summer Young doubled to centerfield, scoring Bassett. Sarah Offutt then drove Young home on a single to right field as Tech's lead ballooned to 7-1.

After Alcorn State scored an unearned run in the bottom of the third, Tech put the game away in the top of the fifth inning by plating four more runs on five hits. After the first two Tech batters recorded outs, Heather Doiron doubled down the right field line and then scored on a Waits single up the middle.

Pinch hitter Megan Granger walked before Oliver hit a two-run double to deep centerfield, making the score 10-2. Jessica Kirby followed with an RBI single plating Oliver and giving Tech the 11-2 lead.

Wanda Malone came on in relief and pitched a scoreless fifth inning to seal the victory.

Tech was led offensively by Bassett (3 hits, 2 RBI, 1 run), Waits (2 hits, 2 RBI, 2 runs), Oliver (2 hits, 2 RBI, 2 runs) and Barnes (2 hits, 2 runs).

In game one of the day, Alcorn State pitcher Elise Powell kept the Lady Techsters in check, picking up the victory by scattering seven hits and three walks in the complete game performance.

The Lady Braves (7-12) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning off Tech starter Jordan Simmons. The big blow of the frame was a two-run single by Alex Harrington down the right field line.

Tech threatened to tie the game or take the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, loading the bases. Young walked prior to back-to-back singles by Barnes and Danielle Sheridan. However, with two outs, Powell enticed a ground out by Waits to second base to end the threat.

Alcorn State upped the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring one run on three hits. Malone came on in relief of Simmons to get Tech out of a jam as the Lady Braves threatened to blow the game wide open.

Tech finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning as Kirby's double scored Oliver, who had reached on a single to left field. However, with runners on first and third and two outs, Elizabeth Franklin was retired on a weak line drive to third base.

Tech would not threaten in the top of the seventh.

The Lady Techsters stranded nine base runners in the game.

Simmons was tagged with the loss, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and three walks in 4.2 innings of action.

Barnes led Tech's seven-hit attack with two base knocks while Sheridan, Waits, Clark, Oliver, Kirby and Bassett each registered one hit.

Tech returns to action Thursday night when it travels to Centenary for a single game starting at 5:30 P.M.