April 25, 2009

Box Score

RUSTON -- Louisiana Tech swept a softball doubleheader from San Jose State by the scores of 9-7 and 4-1 Saturday afternoon at the Lady Techster Softball Complex during Senior Day.

With the wins, Tech improves to 29-19 on the year and 10-7 in WAC play while San Jose State falls to 18-33 and 5-13 in league action.

Following the doubleheader sweep, Louisiana Tech honored its four seniors in Emma Barnes, Lyndsey McIlwain, Krissi Oliver and Danielle Sheridan.

In game one of the day, Amberly Waits and Kylie Bassett combined for four hits, including three home runs and drove in seven runs in the victory.

After San Jose State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on a two-run single by Nicole Wells in the top of the first inning, LA Tech answered as Bassett hit a two-run home run over the centerfield fence in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 2-2.

The Lady Techsters added five more runs in the bottom of the second inning as Sheridan drove home a run with an infield single and then Waits followed with a three-run home run over the right centerfield fence, making the score 6-2.

Bassett then followed with a solo home run over the centerfield fence upping the advantage to 7-2.

After SJSU added a run in the top of the third inning, Tech scored an unearned run in the bottom of the third as Claire Gibson doubled and then came around to score on an error by the Spartans as the score was 8-3.

The lead increased to 9-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning on back-to-back doubles by Sheridan and Waits.

Oliver looked in control in the circle for Tech until the top of the sixth inning when Julianne Aiello hit her first home run of the season -- a two-run shot -- to make the score 9-5.

The Spartans then made things interesting in the top of the seventh inning as an error by Tech allowed San Jose State to mount a comeback. A Natasha Hawkins and Alissa Murphy RBI singles closed the lead to 9-7.

With two outs and runners on first and second, Aiello drilled an Oliver pitch deep over the left field wall, but about 10-feet foul, which would have given the Spartans the lead. Two pitches later, Oliver induced an innocent ground out to end the game.

Oliver (10-13) picked up the win, allowing seven runs -- five earned -- on 10 hits and three walks while striking out two.

Waits, Bassett, Barnes and Gibson each registered two hits each in the win.

In game two of the day, Meghan Krieg kept San Jose State's bat silent in the win.

After Sarah Taylor opened the game with a single for San Jose State, the Spartans didn't register their second hit until the top of the seventh when Alex Stange recorded a two-out RBI single.

Krieg (17-4) picked up her third win of the week, allowing one earned run on two hits and three walks while striking out eight.

Tech received the offensive support it needed early in the game. With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Waits lined a triple to right center and scored on a throwing error by Spartan shortstop Morgan Otto on a relay throw.

The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the third inning when Heather Doiron was hit by a pitch and Barnes reached safely on a fielders choice as Doiron beat the throw to second base on a sacrifice bunt.

Sheridan then hit the first pitch she saw from San Jose State starter Amanda Pridmore over the right centerfield fence for a three-run home run and a 4-0 LA Tech lead.

Barnes, Sheridan, Waits, Kirby and Gibson each registered one hit in the win.

Tech plays its final home games of the year Wednesday when the Lady Techsters host Ole Miss in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m.