Feb. 9, 2008

Box Score

RUSTON - Louisiana Tech received stellar pitching performances from starter Mandi Bertsch and reliever Jordan Simmons in blanking I-20 rival Louisiana-Monroe 4-0 Saturday afternoon in the day's third game of the Louisiana Tech Invitational.

Bertsch (1-0) picked up the win, allowing only three hits and no walks while striking out one UL-Monroe batter.

Simmons earned her first collegiate save, entering the game in the top of the fifth inning and hurling the final three innings, allowing only two hits and no walks.

"Mandi was really sick before the game and we were concerned with how far she could go," said Tech head coach Sarah Dawson. "We told her if she threw strikes and didn't walk people, she'd have a good chance and she did just that. She gave her defense some ground balls and pop ups and made it easy on them. We also turned a nice double player behind her.

"Jordan did good job, and she compliments Mandi really well. She came in throwing hard and had good movement on her pitches."

Tech (1-1) struck for all four runs in the bottom of the third inning. With one out and the bases empty, sophomore Elizabeth Franklin recorded her first collegiate hit a single to left field before junior Emma Barnes followed with a double down the left field line.

Junior Danielle Sheridan followed with a two-run double to left field, giving the Lady Techsters a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Amberly Waits then made it 4-0 with a two-run home run to right center.

Six different Techsters recorded hits on the day, including Franklin, Barnes, Sheridan, Waits, Jessica Kirby and Kylie Bassett.

Louisiana-Monroe (0-2) threatened to score by putting two baserunners on in both the third and sixth innings, but the young Techster hurlers worked out of the jams preserving the shutout.

Sophomore Kandace Causey (0-1) picked up the loss for UL-Monroe, allowing four earned runs on five hits and two walks in 3.0 innings of action. Tech returns to action Sunday when it hosts UL-Lafayette at 1:30 p.m. and UL-Monroe at 4 p.m.