May 2, 2009

Box Score

LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Stacy Lien registered a walk-off run-scoring single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to lift New Mexico State to a 5-4 win over Louisiana Tech in the regular season finale for both teams Saturday at the Aggie Softball Complex.

With the loss, Tech ends the regular season with a 32-21 mark and finished fourth in the WAC with a 12-8 mark while New Mexico State finished 32-19, 11-9 in league play.

The loss was only the third in the last 15 games for the Lady Techsters who will travel to Fresno for the upcoming WAC Tournament which starts Wednesday. All three losses during the last 15 games have been one-run setbacks.

After sweeping the Aggies in a doubleheader on Friday, Tech was poised to take game three before New Mexico State took advantage of some late inning clutch hitting.

Tech took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning on a solo home run by Heather Doiron off Aggie starter Kim Watson, the fourth straight game that Doiron has recorded a home run.

Emma Barnes then drew a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a single by Danielle Sheridan. Amberly Waits then followed with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Barnes and giving Tech a 2-0 lead.

The Aggies then took advantage of some timely hits in the bottom of the third off Tech starter Meghan Krieg. New Mexico State recorded four hits, including a couple of infield singles, to plate three runs and take a 3-2 lead.

Tech then responded in the top of the fifth inning. Sheridan walked and Waits reached on an error. One out later, Jessica Kirby appeared to have given Tech a 4-3 lead on a two-run double down the left field line, scoring Waits and Kylie Bassett who had reached on a fielders choice.

However, after the New Mexico State coaching staff questioned the play, the third base umpire finally overturned the call claiming Kirby's hit landed just foul.

Kirby eventually struck out swinging for the second out of the frame. Sophomore Claire Gibson then recorded an RBI double to left field and Krissi Oliver followed with an RBI infield single, making the score 4-3.

Amanda Parsonage then grounded out to shortstop to end the threat by Tech.

NMSU's Nohara led the bottom of the sixth off with a double to left centerfield, chasing Krieg from the game.

Wanda Malone then came on in relief and surrendered a single by Angie Ortega as Nohara scored on a throwing error by Tech left fielder Danielle Sheridan on the play.

Malone then walked three of the next four batters she faced but did benefit from a double play on a line drive off the bat of Lien that was gloved by Waits. With the bases loaded and two outs and the game tied, Malone got Kristi Randall to ground out to second base to end the threat.

In the top of the seventh, Tech was unable to generate any offense giving the Aggies their opportunity to win the game in the seventh.

Oliver led Tech with two outs while Sheridan, Gibson, Parsonage and Doiron each registered one hit. Waits saw her 15-game hitting streak came to an end after going 0-for-3 with one run and one RBI.

Malone (2-3) took the loss, allowing four hits and walking four in 1.2 innings of action.

For the second straight year, the Lady Techsters will be the No. 4 seed in the WAC Tournament and will face 3 seed Hawaii in the first round Wednesday at 9 p.m. CST.