Feb. 11, 2009

Box Score

RUSTON -- Senior Krissi Oliver pitched six strong innings to lead Louisiana Tech to a 4-0 win over Northwestern State in the season opener at Lady Techster Softball Complex.

Tech jumped out to an early lead on a Danielle Sheridan solo home run over the right field wall in the bottom of the first inning and then added single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

"For a first game, I thought we did a good job of coming out and establishing control of the game early," said Tech head coach Sarah Dawson. "Scoring the run in the bottom of the first inning really help us get off to a good start. We challenged the girls the second time through the lineup to make adjustments at the plate and they did.

"I liked the fact we were able to continue to add on to our early lead. They threw three different pitchers at us and our girls did a good job of still producing and putting pressure on them."

NSU appeared ready to take a lead in the top of the third inning. With runners on first and second and two outs, Samantha Roberts lined a ball into the right centerfield alley that Tech centerfielder Emma Barnes chased down to save two runs.

Barnes then led the bottom of the third off with a single and advanced to second on an error by NSU on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Sheridan.

After Amberly Waits sacrificed the runners to second and third with one out, Kylie Bassett drove Barnes home with a deep fly ball to left field, giving the Lady Techsters a 2-0 advantage.

The Demons (1-4) threatened in the top of the fourth inning as a hit, a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with only one out. However, Oliver recorded a strikeout of Brittany Card and then induced an innocent ground ball to second base to end the inning.

"Krissi struggled with her control but did do a nice job of giving her defense an opportunity to make plays behind her," Dawson said. "Our defense stepped up to the challenge and made plays when we needed them."

Oliver (1-0) struck out four while all scattering five hits and three walks in earning her first victory of the season.

The bottom of the Tech order then plated the final two runs as third baseman Summer Young lined a ball off the top of the left field fence in the bottom of the fourth inning, plating Elizabeth Franklin all the way from first base and upping the advantage to 3-0.

Franklin then recorded an RBI single through the left side of the infield in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring Amberly Waits who had singled and then stolen second base.

Franklin led Tech with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate.

"We return a lot of our same lineup from last year," Dawson said. "Frankie is really the only new one that was in the starting lineup tonight. It was great to see her contribute right away. I really liked how she got her hits tonight; it shows she's making the adjustments at the plate we've asked her to make."

Sophomore Wanda Malone pitched a scoreless seventh inning to seal the victory for the Lady Techters.

Tech returns to action this weekend at the UL-Lafayette tournament where they open play Friday at 3 p.m. against McNeese State.