March 9, 2008

Box Score

STARKVILLE - Louisiana Tech committed three errors which led to three unearned runs and ultimately spelled doom as the Lady Techsters fell 5-2 to 18th ranked Mississippi State Sunday in the Bulldog Classic championship game.

Junior pitcher Krissi Oliver (4-6) was let down by her defense as Mississippi State (21-4) scored in each of the first four innings en route to the victory.

Sammie Joe Bailey helped Mississippi State take an early 1-0 lead as she delivered a two-out single up the middle, scoring Hayle Guess who reached on a base hit and moved to second on a Courtney Bures single.

Mississippi State increased its lead to 2-0 in the second as Nakita Boyce hit a two-out triple to left field, scoring Chelsea Bramlett who had also registered a two-out triple off the centerfield wall.

The Lady Bulldogs came up with more two-out hits in the third inning. Bailey drew a two-out walk and scored on Gina McCloud's line drive to right that went under Lyndsey McIlwain's glove and rolled to the warning track.

Another Tech error in the fourth inning led to two more runs. After Bramlett and Ali Bainbridge reached on consecutive singles, Bures hit a ground ball to Kylie Bassett at first base that was thrown errantly into right field allowing both runners to score and putting Mississippi State up 5-0.

Tech got on the scoreboard in its final at bat. Bassett led the frame off with a walk and after Oliver lined out, Jessica Kirby doubled to score Bassett with Tech's first run. With two outs, Heather Doiron singled home Kirby for the final run of the game.

Emma Barnes, Kirby and Doiron each registered two hits for the Lady Techsters, who posted a 2-2 mark in the tournament.

Oliver, Amberly Waits and Bassett were each named to the all-tournament team.

Tech returns to action Wednesday when it hosts IUPUI in a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m.