May 17, 2008

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COLLEGE STATION - Freshman Meghan Krieg worked her way out of a bases-loaded, seventh-inning jam to lift Louisiana Tech to a 2-1 win over Auburn Saturday evening at Aggie Softball Complex.

With the win, Tech (37-28) advanced to the championship game of the College Station regional Sunday at noon against top-seed and 4th-ranked Texas A&M (51-7), which downed Tech 4-0 earlier in the day.

Tech led Auburn 2-0 on a pair of solo home runs by Jessica Kirby in the second and Kylie Bassett in the fourth as starter Mandi Bertsch held the Tigers (38-22) at bay.

Krieg relieved Bertsch in the fifth, and completed in the final three innings to earn her fourth save of the season, setting a Tech single season record. However, the save nor the win would come easy for Tech.

Leading 2-0 heading into the seventh, Krieg retired the first batter before hitting Auburn's Myesha Finney with a pitch. After inducing a fly out by Taryn Gary for the second out, Krieg appeared to have won the game when Alicia Hunolt hit a routine grounder to shortstop Amberly Waits.

However, instead of just stepping on the second base bag for the final out, Waits flipped the ball to second baseman Kylie Bassett who wasn't expecting it and dropped it for an error keeping Auburn alive.

Starr Dorsey then singled to right field to load the bases before Krista Klein drew a bases-loaded walk, cutting the Tech lead to 2-1. However, Krieg got Scott to hit a slow grounder which Waits made a great play on to record the final out of the game.

"I thought we changed our approach," said Tech head coach Sarah Dawson. "We came out here a lot more positive and a lot more focused on what we needed to do. We came out having more fun.

"We always play better when we come out like that. I was proud of the girls. We challenged them to see how we were going to bounce back from the way we played the first game. They came out here and did what they needed to do and got out of here with a win."

Bertch (9-8) picked up the win, allowing only two hits and one walk in 4.0 innings of work while Krieg picked up the save allowing only one hit, one unearned run and two walks over the final three innings.

"It was tough," said Auburn head coach Tina Deese. "We did have baserunners and we'd been hitting the ball hard all game. We just couldn't find a hole. You've got to give Louisiana Tech credit, they were very athletic. When push came to shove, they got it done."

Sunday's championship game at noon CST will be carried live on ESPN 97.7 FM and via the internet at www.espn977.com.