Feb. 23, 2009

Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Krissi Oliver and Meghan Krieg played copy-cat Sunday in the second day of the Mizzuno Classic hosted by Southern Mississippi.

After watching Krieg pitch a two-hit complete game shutout in a 3-0 win over Nicholls State in the first contest of the day, Oliver came back and pitched a two-hit complete-game shutout in a 2-0 win over Southern Miss in the final game of the day.

Tech finished the five-team tournament with a 3-1 mark, earning it the unofficial tournament championship crown. Nicholls State also finished 3-1 but the Lady Techsters defeated the Colonels in the head-to-head match-up.

In the first game of the day, Krieg (3-1) registered her second shutout of the season -- both coming against the Colonels -- as she allowed only two hits while scattering six walks in the complete-game performance. Krieg also struck out nine batters in the win.

Nicholls State (10-5) won its first three games of the tournament before encountering LA Tech (6-5), which was coming off a disappointing 2-0 loss at the hands of South Alabama late Saturday.

The Lady Techsters played stellar defense behind Krieg, recording zero errors in the game and keeping the Colonels off the scoreboard.

Nicholls State had the first great opportunity to take a lead in the game as the Colonels loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fourth inning as two walks and a hit batter brought up Haley Burkett, who grounded out to third base to end the threat.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning when Jessica Kirby led the fame off with an infield single. A sacrifice bunt advanced pinch runner Kendra Harmon to second and then a ground out by Summer Young moved her to third base with two outs.

Sophomore second baseman Heather Doiron then drove Harmon home with an infield single to give Tech a 1-0 lead. After Doiron stole second base, Emma Barnes lined a single up the middle scoring Doiron from second and upping the Lady Techster advantage to 2-0.

After Sarah Offutt walked to put runners on first and second, Amberly Waits drove home the third and final run of the game with a single through the right side.

Nicholls State would put two runners on via walks with one out in the sixth but Krieg retired the next two batters to end the fame.

Waits led Tech's seven-hit attack with two singles and an RBI while Barnes, Kylie Bassett, Kirby, Young and Doiron each recorded one hit apiece.

Audrey Wood (5-3) picked up the loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and two walks in 4.1 innings of work.

In the nightcap, Tech scored two early runs and Oliver made them hold up for her second win of the season.

Tech took an early lead in the game as the Lady Techsters plated two runs off USM starter Britney Dinelt, who lasted only 1/3 of an inning before being pulled. Barnes started the frame with a double and Sheridan followed with a walk.

Waits then lined a double to centerfield, scoring both Barnes and Sheridan before an out was ever recorded in the game. Tech would load the bases with only one out before Courtney Ramos came on in relief to retire the next to batters without the Lady Techsters doing any more damage.

However, the damage was done as Oliver coasted through the USM lineup taking a no-hit bid into the fifth inning before a two-out single by Courtney Hill broke it up. With runners on first and third, Oliver a fly ball to end the threat.

Waits led Tech with two hits and two RBI while Barnes, Bassett and Oliver each registered one hit.

Tech returns to action Friday when it faces UL-Monroe and Rutgers in the first day of the Baylor Tournament in Waco.