Feb. 28, 2010

Box Score

LAKE CHARLES - Junior pitcher Meghan Krieg recorded a season-high 13 strikeouts and overcame control issues to lead Louisiana Tech to a 6-2 win over McNeese State in the second game of a softball doubleheader Sunday afternoon.

Tech (6-5) won the first game of the day over the Cowgirls 9-7.

Krieg (4-4) picked up the win, allowing two runs - one earned -- on four hits and nine walks in the complete-game performance against the Cowgirls (9-8).

"Meghan had a rough day yesterday," said Tech head coach Sarah Dawson. "It shows a lot about her leadership and toughness for her to get back out there today and gut it out. A lot of the walks didn't seem to be as hurtful today with the exception of the last inning. There were a couple of innings where she would walk the first two hitters and then come back and strike out the side. She kept her composure better today. She didn't have much in the tank today ... for her to complete the game was a big deal."

McNeese State took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Liz Morvant recorded a two-out RBI single off Krieg, scoring Molly Guidry.

The Lady Techsters answered in the top of the second inning by scoring two runs. Junior Heather Doiron recorded a one-out double to right center and scored on an RBI single by freshman Meghan Knowles, tying the game at 1-1.

Knowles advanced to third on a fielder's choice by junior Claire Gibson and then scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by sophomore Amanda Parsonage as Tech took a 2-1 lead.

Sophomore Kendra Harmon led the top of the third inning off with her first career home run as Tech led 3-1. One out later, senior Amberly Waits reached on a fielding error and then scored on an RBI single by sophomore Valerie Quiroga, upping the advantage to 4-1.

Quiroga struck again in the top of the fifth inning, launching a two-run home run which scored Kylie Bassett who singled to start the frame.

"Val did a good job behind the plate last night," Dawson said. "She did a good job today. She absolutely crushed the ball; even her single went to the wall. She can hit the ball as far as anyone can. Our entire team can crush the ball. Now that we know that we can do it, hopefully we will do it on a more consistent basis. "

Krieg overcame control issues in a number of innings including the bottom of the seventh when she walked the bases loaded with nobody out. However, she fought back to induce a pair of groundouts before walking her fourth batter of the frame.

With the tying run at the plate, Krieg struck out Whitney Corbello to end the game.

Quiroga (2 hits, 1 HR, 3 RBI) and Knowles (2 hits, 1 RBI) led Tech's offensive attack.