May 2, 2009

Box Score

Internet Audio For Saturday

LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Louisiana Tech hit a program record six home runs to down New Mexico State 9-1 in the first game of a Western Athletic Conference doubleheader at Aggies Softball Complex Friday.

The Lady Techsters earned a sweep of the two games with a 5-3 victory in the nightcap thus clinching the four seed in the upcoming WAC Tournament.

New Mexico State (31-19, 10-9 WAC) came into the games ranked No. 1 in the country with a .347 batting average and 64 home runs, but it was LA Tech (32-20, 12-7 WAC) that showed the offensive prowess.

Emma Barnes hit two home runs -- including a solo shot in the top of the third that was her 234th career hit to snap Chris Sherman's 20-year-old hit record -- while Krissi Oliver, Kylie Bassett, Heather Doiron and Amberly Waits each homered in the game one victory.

Barnes solo shot in the third gave Tech a 1-0 advantage and then Oliver followed in the top of the fourth with a solo home run, upping the lead to 2-0. Amanda Parsonage followed Oliver's home run with a routine ground ball to shortstop that Kylie Randall allowed through her legs for an error and then Doiron followed with a two-run shot for a 4-0 Lady Techster lead.

Waits and Bassett started the top of the fifth inning with back-to-back home runs as Tech built a 6-0 lead. New Mexico State scored its lone run of the game on a pair of infield singles in the bottom of the fifth off of Tech starter Meghan Krieg, who dominated in the circle.

Tech then finished off the Aggies in the top of the sixth as Barnes hit a two-run home run and Bassett singled home Waits to give the Lady Techsters a 9-1 lead.

Barnes led Tech with three hits and three RBI while Waits added three hits and Bassett and Doiron each registered two hits.

Krieg (18-5) picked up the win, limiting the Aggies to only five singles in 6.0 innings of action while striking out 10.

Three New Mexico State pitchers were used as Kim Watson (19-11) took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks in 3.1 innings of action.

In the second game of the day, LA Tech used some late offensive heroics and a strong pitching performance by Krissi Oliver and Wanda Malone to pick up the win.

With the game tied at 3-3 in the top of the seventh, Barnes led off with a single and then Sheridan followed with a ground ball to second that hit Barnes, who was called out on the play.

However, with Sheridan standing on first base, Waits drilled a 2-2 pitch deep over the centerfield fence and scoreboard to give the Lady Techsters a 5-3 lead.

Malone retired three of the four Aggie batters she faced in the bottom of the seventh to pick up the win.

NMSU took an early 1-0 lead as Hoku Nohara crushed an Oliver pitch deep over the centerfield fence in the bottom of the second. It was the only lead NMSU would have on the day.

Tech answered in the top of the third inning as Doiron hit her second home run of the day -- and her third in three games -- over the centerfield fence to tie the game at 1-1.

Doiron struck again the top of the fourth inning, lining a single to right field, plating Oliver from second and giving the Lady Techsters a 2-1 advantage.

NMSU tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out run scoring single by Ashley Maroda, scoring Tiare Jennings from second.

The Lady Techsters then took the lead again in the top of the fifth inning as Waits doubled to left center and then scored on an RBI triple by Bassett off the centerfield fence.

Aggie centerfielder Kandis Jones then tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a solo home run off of Oliver.

Malone relieved Oliver to start the sixth as both teams were unable to generate any offense in the frame, setting up Waits seventh inning heroics.

Malone (2-2) earned the victory in relief, allowing one hit in 2.0 innings of action. Oliver kept NMSU at bay, allowing three runs on eight hits and no walks in 5.0 innings of work.

Bassett led Tech's 14-hit attack with a perfect 4-for-4 performance while Waits was 3-for-4. Doiron and Sheridan each registered two hits in the win.

The two teams will play the final game of the series Saturday starting at 3 p.m. CST.