May 18, 2008

Box Score

COLLEGE STATION - Fourth-ranked Texas A&M exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth to break open a scoreless game and defeat Louisiana Tech 6-0 Sunday afternoon at Aggie Softball Complex.

With the win, Texas A&M (52-7) advances to the Super Regional and will host the winner of Stanford and UMass next weekend.

Louisiana Tech (37-29) ends its season after an impressive postseason run that included capturing the Western Athletic Conference Tournament title and winning two games over SEC Auburn in the College Station Regional.

"I'm clearly proud of the season that we had," said Tech head coach Sarah Dawson. "Our girls did a great job of exceeding everybody's expectations for our season. That's not easy when you don't have the foundation or the experience to go from. It shows how much character these girls have and how hard they were really to work. Every obstacle that we challenged them with, they did a great job of sticking together as a unit and getting out there and performing."

All-American Megan Gibson (36-1) threw a complete-game no-hitter in the win over Tech Sunday as a second-inning walk to Kylie Bassett was all that stood in the way of a perfect game.

For the second day in a row, Gibson - who had defeated Tech 4-0 Saturday - struck out 11 Tech batters and never allowed a runner past first base.

Tech junior hurler Krissi Oliver (18-15) picked up the loss despite in impressive performance through the first four innings.

Oliver allowed only three infield hits through four innings and twice worked her way out of jams against the Aggies.

In the bottom of the fourth, Texas A&M put runners on second and third with one out but Oliver induced an infield popup by Jamie Lobpries for the second out. Right fielder Lyndsey McIlwain then made the defensive play of the game, robbing Macie Morrow of a double with a sliding catch at the wall and saving two runs.

However, Texas A&M would finally break through in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Rhiannon Kliesing registered bloop double to centerfield that Tech outfielder Emma Barnes almost caught.

Natalie Villarreal then singled off the glove of McIlwain in right, giving the Aggies a 1-0 lead. Gibson would single and steal second to put runners at second and third before Jamie Hinshaw singled up the middle and increasing the advantage to 3-0.

Holly Ridley then lined a pitch over the rightfield wall, capping the five-run frame.

"Pretty much everything was working well," Oliver said. "I was just trying to hit my spots and keep them off balance. I wanted to keep the ball of the plate but still throw strikes. That one pitch that (Ridley) hit over, it was outside; she just hit a good pitch. I was just trying to keep composure and hit my spots even when pressure is on."

Oliver allowed five earned runs on seven hits and two walks in 4.1 innings of action while freshman Wanda Malone came on in relief and surrendered one earned run on two hits and two walks over the final 1.2 innings.

Tech ends the season 37-29, the first winning season since 1999 and the first NCAA postseason appearance since 1995.

The Lady Techsters will lose two-time All-Western Athletic Conference catcher Regan Clark to graduation but will return the rest of its roster.