March 8, 2008

Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Louisiana Tech banged out 13 hits to down Charleston Southern 8-2 Saturday afternoon at the 2008 Bulldog Classic hosted by Mississippi State.

Due to the winter storm which passed through the south this weekend, the schedule for the tournament was altered and Saturday's win was the only game of the day for the Lady Techsters.

Tech will resume play Sunday with a noon game against Charleston Southern and a 2 p.m. against Top 25 Mississippi State. Tech could also possibly play a third game against Austin Peay on Sunday, if both sides agree.

Junior Krissi Oliver was the hero in the circle and at the plate as the Glendale, Ariz., native picked up the win and also registered a career-high three hits and three RBIs on the day.

"Krissi has been starting to come around (offensively)," said Tech head coach Sarah Dawson. "It was good to see her have a big game at the plate. She also did a nice job on the mound."

However, Oliver wasn't the only offensive spark as Emma Barnes, Danielle Sheridan, Summer Young, and Kylie Bassett each registered two hits. Amberly Waits also added her team-leading fourth home run of the year.

"It was nice to see production throughout the order," Dawson said "In the last few weeks, it seems like either the top of the lineup was hot or the bottom; never both. We did a good job of pushing runners across when had the opportunities. We scored consistently through the game."

Tech (12-11) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, thanks to four hits and one Charleston Southern error. Barnes led the frame off with a single and eventually scored on an error. Oliver also registered a two-out RBI single, scoring Clark to make the score 2-0.

Charleston Southern (9-15) picked up an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning thanks two a pair of singles and two Tech errors by Young.

However, the Lady Techsters wasted little time in responding as Waits hit a two-run home run over the right field fence in the top of the third inning as Tech upped its lead to 4-1.

A Bassett RBI single and an Oliver two-RBI single in the top of the fourth inning plated three more runs for Tech as the Lady Techsters led 7-1.

Back to back hits by Charleston Southern leading off the bottom of the fifth inning added a run and cut Tech's lead to 7-2.

Tech added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Young registered a run-scoring single.

Oliver (4-5) picked up the win, allowing seven hits, two runs - one earned - while striking out five and walking none.

Dawson said the only thing she was disappointed in was her team's three errors, one day after Tech recorded five errors.

"I think part of it is the fact we haven't been able to practice as much due to travel days and weather issues," Dawson said. "We haven't had what I feel is a solid defensive practice in a while. The good news is our errors can easily be corrected. It's a good wake up call for us as coaches. It's something we will definitely address."