Feb. 29, 2008

Box Score

OXFORD, Miss. - Louisiana Tech built an early lead and hung on to down Belmont 5-4 Friday afternoon in its first game at the Ole Miss Red and Blue Classic.

With the game tied at zero, the Lady Techsters (8-8) scored four runs in the top of the third inning by taking advantage of some wildness by Belmont starter Julie Harmon.

With one out, Emma Barnes singled and stole second base before Danielle Sheridan walked. Amberly Waits then singled home Barnes making the score 1-0. After a Waits stolen base, Regan Clark grounded out for the second out of the frame.

Harmon then lost her control, walking Krissi Oliver to load the bases. A Harmon wild pitch scored Sheridan to make the score 2-0. Jessica Kirby and Kylie Bassett then drew back-to-back walks, Bassett's free pass scoring Waits for a 3-0 Louisiana Tech lead.

Summer Young was then hit by a pitch, driving home Oliver and giving the Lady Techsters a 4-0 lead.

However, Belmont (3-5) answered with a three-run third inning of its own. The Bruins took advantage of two hits, one walk and one Tech error to pull within 4-3 off Lady Techster starter Mandi Bertsch, who fought with control issues of her own in the game.

Tech added a run in the top of the fourth inning but missed a golden opportunity to put more distance between itself and Belmont. Barnes and Waits singles book-ended a Belmont error on a Sheridan ground ball, loading the bases with no outs.

Regan Clark then singled home Barnes as Tech led 5-3. However, Belmont relief pitcher Sammie Parks retired three straight Techsters to get out of the jab without giving up any more runs.

Freshman Meghan Krieg came on in relief of Bertsch to start the fifth inning but was immediately let down by her defense as an error allowed Bruins leadoff batter Holly Herman to reach second base. One out later, Sara Bentley singled Herman home to cut the Tech lead to 5-4.

However, Krieg would retire eight straight Bruin hitters to pick up her first collegiate save as she allowed just one hit and one unearned run while striking out four in 3.0 innings of work.

Bertsch (4-1) picked up the win for Tech despite her struggles, allowing three runs - two earned - on two hits and five walks.

Waits led Tech offensively with three hits, two stolen bases and one RBI, while Barnes and Clark each added two hits.

Tech will face SFA at approximately 10 p.m. Friday night.