March 27, 2010

Box Score

RUSTON - Louisiana Tech split a softball doubleheader with Utah State Saturday as the Lady Techsters won the first game 10-4 before falling 4-3 in nine innings in the second game.

Tech (14-10, 2-1 WAC) won the series, taking two of three from the Aggies although Utah State (12-13, 1-2) salvaged the third and final game.

In the first game of the day, Amberly Waits became the LA Tech all-time hits leader with a double and a home run and drove in three runs to lead the Lady Techsters to the 10-4 win.

Waits run-scoring double over the head of the USU right fielder in the bottom of the third inning was her 237th career hit, passing Emma Barnes on the hits list. Waits added a solo home run in the fifth inning - her 31st career shot, only one behind Ashley Cameron for the program record.

For the second straight game, USU jumped out on top scoring one run in the first and two more in the second off of Tech starter Meghan Krieg.

However, Tech tied it up in the bottom of the third inning on Waits RBI double and Jessica Kirby's RBI single. The Lady Techsters then took advantage of wildness by USU starter Mandy Harmon in the fourth inning, scoring five runs - four unearned - on only one hit. Harmon hit three Tech batters, walked one and allowed one single while the Aggies defense made two critical infield errors as Tech took control with an 8-3 lead.

Kylie Bassett then hit her team-leading sixth home run in the bottom of the fifth followed by Waits solo shot as Tech took a 10-3 advantage.

Freshman Janna Frandrup then relieved Krieg in the circle, working 2.0 innings while allowing one earned run on two hits and three walks.

Krieg picked up the win, allowing three earned runs on six hits and five walks while striking out four batters.

Offensively, Waits and Bassett led Tech with two hits each while Kirby and Knowles each registered one hit and two RBI.

In the second game of the day, USU centerfielder Nicole Tindall hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning off of Krieg to give the Aggies their only victory in the series.

Tech jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a three-run home run by Kirby over the right field wall off of USU starter Kate Greenough. Tech scored three runs on three hits in the frame.

However, the Aggies answered in the bottom of the second inning, scoring three runs on five hits off Tech starter Michelle Jones to tie the game at 3-3.

Krieg took over for Jones in the fourth as she and Greenough were masterful holding the teams scoreless until the ninth inning.

Greenough (5-6) picked up the win, allowing three earned run on five hits and three walks while striking out five in 9.0 innings of action.

Krieg (10-9) took the loss despite allowing only one earned run on seven hits while striking out nine and walking zero in 6.0 innings of action.

Tech was led by Knowles with two hits and Kirby with one hit and three RBI. Amanda Parsonage reached base safely all three times, walking twice and recording a single.

Tech returns to action Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Centenary.