Feb. 21, 2010

Box Score

Louisiana Tech failed to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities early and it eventually caught up to them as Southern Miss rallied for a 5-4 win over the Lady Techsters in eight innings Sunday evening in the final game of the Mizuno Classic.

Southern Miss third baseman Lauren Castelli singled home the game-winning run with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Tech (3-3) took an early 4-0 lead on the Golden Eagles but had numerous opportunities to blow the game open. However, the Lady Techsters left 13 runners on base in the game, including five in the first two innings, as Tech was only 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

The Lady Techsters had the bases loaded with no outs in both the first and second innings but were only managed to plate three runs - two on bases loaded walks and one on a sacrifice fly. Tech also had the bases loaded with only one out in the fifth inning but came up completely empty.

Jessica Kirby drew a bases loaded walk in the top of the first inning, giving LA Tech a 1-0 lead. Tech plated two more runs in the second inning, one on a bases loaded walk to Kendra Harmon and one on a sacrifice fly by Kylie Bassett as the Lady Techsters led 3-0.

Sophomore Amanda Parsonage gave Tech a 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning on a solo home run, the second of her collegiate career.

After cruising through the first three innings, Meghan Krieg (2-2) gave up her first run in the bottom of the fourth inning as Meghan Hill walked and then scored on an RBI single by Logan James, cutting the Tech lead to 4-1.

James struck again in the bottom of the sixth, hitting a two-run home run to left centerfield, scoring Mathis who led the frame off with a single.

Tech took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning but USM loaded the bases with one out. James recorded her fourth RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to centerfield, tying the score at 4-4.

The international tiebreaker rule was used in the eighth inning as each team started the frame with a runner on second base. However, the Lady Techsters were unable to capitalize as Parsonage was thrown out at home trying to score on a ground ball by Sarah Offutt to second base.

After Waits walked to put runners on first and second, Bassett fouled out to second base to end the threat.

USM (7-1) then plated the game-winning run in the bottom of the frame.

Krieg took the loss, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out nine. She entered the sixth inning with a two-hitter but USM recorded six hits over the final two-plus innings.

Waits led Tech with three hits while Parsonage added two hits.

Tech returns to action next weekend when they travel to Lake Charles to compete in the McNeese State Tournament.