Feb. 17, 2009

Box Score

RUSTON -- Sophomore Megan Krieg continued her early season domination in the circle striking out a career-high 11 batters and leading Louisiana Tech to a 4-1 victory in the second game of a softball doubleheader at the Lady Techster Softball Complex Tuesday.

McNeese State won the opener 6-5 after scoring six unearned runs in the top of the fourth inning thanks to four Lady Techster errors.

However, the story of the nightcap was Krieg (2-1), who earned the win by scattering three singles and two walks over 6.0 innings of action while recording the double digit strikeout total.

Krieg allowed McNeese State to take an early 1-0 lead after Lindsey Langner walked and then stole second setting up an RBI single to centerfield by Liz Morvant, who advanced to third base on a two-base error by Emma Barnes.

However, Krieg settled down as Tech picked Morvant off third base and Whitney Corbello followed with a strikeout to end the frame.

The Lady Techsters took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning, capitalizing on wildness by McNeese State starter Katie Shumaker who walked four batters in the inning while allowing only one infield single. Krissi Oliver and Amanda Parsonage each registered RBIs in the frame by drawing bases-loaded walks.

Tech threatened to add to the lead in the bottom of the fifth by loading the bases, but Summer Young hit an innocent ground ball to third to end the fram.e

However, the Lady Techsters added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a two-run single by Amberly Waits which scored Barnes and Danielle Sheridan as Tech grabbed a 4-1 lead.

Sophomore closer Wanda Malone came on in relief of Krieg in the seventh as McNeese State loaded the bases on a single, error and walk before Malone induced a fly ball out by Langner to end the game.

Waits led Tech offensively in the win with two hits, two RBI and one stolen base.

In the first game of the day, Tech grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Waits to right centerfield that scored Sheridan from first. The score remained 1-0 Lady Techsters until the top of the fourth inning when Tech collapsed defensively.

McNeese State plated six unearned runs in the frame on three hits and four Louisiana Tech errors as starter Krissi Oliver was plagued by her defense's lapses behind her.

The big blows in the inning were a two-run single by Rachel King and a two-run single by Morvant.

Tech cut into the 6-1 deficit in its half of the fourth inning on an RBI double by Heather Doiron and an RBI single by Emma Barnes. However, Doiron was thrown out at the plate to end the frame with McNeese State still leading 6-3.

The Lady Techsters added two more runs in the fifth inning thanks to an RBI double by Waits and an RBI single by Bassett as the Cowgirls lead shrunk to 6-5.

The score remained 6-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning as Barnes led the frame off with a walk. However, Sheridan fouled out to the catcher trying to sacrifice Barnes to second and then Barnes was caught stealing for the second out of the inning, marking the first baserunner that McNeese State had thrown out in 23 steal attempts this season.

Waits then flied out to left field to end the game.

Oliver (1-3) picked up the loss despite allowing zero earned runs in 6.0 innings of work while striking out four and walking none.

Sheridan and Waits led Tech with two hits each.

Tech returns to action Saturday at the Southern Miss Tournament with a 9 a.m. game against Alabama State and a 2 p.m. contest against South Alabama. The Lady Techsters will then face Nicholls State Sunday at 2 p.m. and Southern Miss at 7 p.m.

All four games can be followed via gametracker at www.southermiss.com.