March 14, 2010

Box Score

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Jessica Bachkora's three-run walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning sent Arkansas to a 5-3 win over Louisiana Tech in the championship game of the Razorback Invitational Sunday.

Tech advanced to the championship game with a 5-3 win over Southeast Missouri State in the first game of the day.

However, in the championship game and with Tech leading 3-2 and one out, Bachkora sent the first pitch she saw deep over the centerfield fence ending the Lady Techsters hopes of the upset bid.

Tech pitcher Meghan Krieg (7-8) took the loss despite allowing only one earned run through seven innings against an Arkansas team that she two-hit the day before.

"Meghan pitched really well both today and when we faced them yesterday," said Tech head coach Sarah Dawson. "She really dominated on the mound and that was good to see out of her. She is clearly doing the job of what a No. 1 needs to do; she gives us a chance to be in the game.

"We hit the ball better today. The kids really struggled yesterday when we faced Arkansas but we did much better; had more quality at bats today. We simply have to find ways to score runs. I tought out kids really competed all game long though."

Arkansas (15-8) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on a b Robinson single.

However, Tech responded in the top of the sixth inning as Jessica Kirby hit a rocket down the third base line that was knocked down, but the single allowed Amberly Waits to score from second as the two teams were tied.

The game remained tied until extra innings when the international tie-breaker rule was used. Tech took advantage in the top of the eighth as Kendra Harmon singled up the middle with one out, scoring Sarah Offutt and giving Tech a 2-1 advantage.

Arkansas answered in the bottom of the frame as a sacrifice fly to deep left field scored the tying run as the two teams went into the ninth inning.

Tech once again grabbed a one-run lead as Waits scored on an infield error by the Razorbacks. The Lady Techsters had a runner on third with two outs when Heather Doiron laced a line drive to centerfield that was caught for the third and final out of the frame.

Bachkora then came through with the game-winning hit off of Krieg in the ninth.

Krieg allowed five runs - only three earned - on six hits and five walks while striking out seven.

Harmon recorded two hits and one RBI while Kirby and Waits each recorded one hit.

In the first game of the day, freshman Michelle Jones three a complete-game and Kirby hit a three-run home run to lead Louisiana Tech to a 5-3 win over Southeast Missouri State.

Jones (4-1) pitched a shutout until the bottom of the seventh inning when Southeast Missouri State (6-10) scored three runs on five hits to cut into a 5-0 Louisiana Tech lead. However, with the bases loaded and two outs, Jones induced a ground ball out to end the game.

The Lady Techsters took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning on Kirby's second home run of the season - a three-run shot. Harmon, who led Tech with three hits in the game, led the frame off with a single and then advanced to second on a walk to Amberly Waits.

Kirby followed with a three-run home run over the centerfield fence as Tech took the early lead.

The Lady Techsters added a single run in the top of the fifth inning as Harmon once again led the frame off with a single and advanced to second on a ground out. With two outs, Kylie Bassett singled to centerfield scoring Harmon.

Leading 4-0 in the top of the seventh, Kirby came through again with a sacrifice fly to centerfield scoring Harmon and upping the advantage to 5-0.

SEMO answered in the bottom of the frame with three runs before Jones retired the final batter with the game-tying run on second.

Harmon (3 hits, 3 runs) and Kirby (2 hits, 1 run, 4 RBI) both led Tech offensively while Janna Frandrup (1 hit), Waits (1 run), Bassett (1 hit, 1 run) and Sarah Offutt (1 hit) also contributed offensively.

Jones allowed three runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out three in the win.