May 9, 2009

Box Score

FRESNO -- Louisiana Tech's hopes of a second consecutive Western Athletic Conference Tournament title came to an end late Friday night when the 24th ranked Nevada Wolf Pack defeated the Lady Techsters 2-1 in nine innings at Bulldog Diamond.

In a classic battle of two teams trying to stave off elimination, Nevada (39-16) caught the breaks it needed in the bottom of the ninth as the game-winning run scored when Wolf Pack second baseman Kim Silagyi beat out a throw on an infield single with two outs.

With the win, Nevada advances to Saturday's championship game against the top-seed Fresno State Bulldogs.

LA Tech (34-23) now must wait for the NCAA selection show on Sunday night to see whether the Lady Techsters late season run -- winning 14 of their last 19 -- was enough to get them into the tournament for the second straight year.

"I'm so proud of these young ladies and what they accomplished so far this year," said head coach Sarah Dawson. "It hasn't been easy all year but they have fought and they continued to get better and better.

"I hope it's not the last game for us but we will just have to wait and see what the NCAA selection committee says Sunday. I think we've made a good case as well as we've played down the stretch."

Senior Krissi Oliver saved perhaps her best performance of the year for Friday night as she tossed 8.0 innings allowing only one run on four hits and four walks.

Sophomore Meghan Krieg came on in relief of Oliver to start the ninth and surrendered a one out double to Danielle Patrick.

Patrick advanced to third on a ground out by Noelle Micka setting the stage for Silagyi, who hit a two hopper to Techster third baseman Claire Gibson, whose throw to first base was ruled not in time as Silagyi was called safe just as Patrick crossed the plate for the winning run.

The Lady Techsters took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as WAC Player of the Year Amberly Waits hit a line drive double to left center, plating Danielle Sheridan from second.

Nevada answered in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by Britton Murdock, which plated Brittany Puzey.

Sam Bias followed with a single to left field, but Murdock was gunned down at the plate by Sheridan to end the frame.

From that point, both Oliver and Nevada starter Katie Holverson put it in cruise control in a good old fashion pitchers duel.

Although Oliver had only two innings where she didn't allow at least one Nevada base runner, the Glendale, Arizona native worked her way out of trouble every time, including a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the third.

Tech also had its chances against Holverson, putting runners on in seven of the nine innings but with the exception of Waits double in the first wasn't able to produce the big hit when needed.

Waits led Tech with three hits, giving her a Tech single season record 81 for the year and also added her 62nd RBI of the year.

Sheridan and Gibson each added one single for the Lady Techsters.

If Louisiana Tech does not get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, the Lady Techsters will bid farewell to seniors Krissi Oliver, Emma Barnes, Danielle Sheridan and Lynsey McIlwain.

"This senior class has been instrumental in making us competitive not only in our conference but nationally," Dawson said. "They have been such a huge part of our success these last two years, and they should be very proud of what they have done. I know I am."