April 2, 2010

Box Score

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Louisiana Tech junior Meghan Krieg struck out San Jose State centerfielder Andrea Bott with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning to preserve a 2-0 victory by the Lady Techsters over the Spartans Friday afternoon in Western Athletic Conference play.

Krieg (12-9), who allowed only one hit in the complete-game performance, walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh but struck out Bott swinging on a full count pitch for the final out of the game.

With the victory, Tech (16-10, 3-1 WAC) opened the three-game road series with a win and increased its winning streak against the Spartans to four games. San Jose State (23-12, 0-4 WAC) has been the surprise team of the WAC during the non-conference portion of the schedule, recording wins over some of the nation's top teams including Oklahoma, Virginia and Charlotte (twice).

However, on Friday, it was Louisiana Tech that played the complete game as the Lady Techsters got timely hitting, great defense and superb pitching in the win.

Krieg, who leads the WAC with 173 strikeouts on the year, allowed only a two-out single to Ursula Lopez in the second inning as she held a San Jose State team that entered the contest batting .312 to one hit.

The Sonora, Texas native also got some defensive help from her teammates as senior catcher Jessica Kirby threw out two would-be Spartan base stealers early in the game to thwart any type of SJSU threats. Entering the game, San Jose State had successfully stolen 53-of-55 bases but Kirby threw out both Kelli Fangonilo and Morgan Otto to end the second and third innings.

Tech scored both of its runs with two outs in the top of the third inning. After Kendra Harmon reached on a fielding error by Otto, Kylie Bassett drilled a double to left centerfield, scoring Harmon from first and giving LA Tech a 1-0 lead.

Amberly Waits then followed with a line drive single to left field, scoring Bassett and increasing the lead to 2-0.

The Lady Techsters threatened again in the fourth inning as Meghan Knowles singled and Janna Frandrup doubled to right centerfield to put runners on second and third with no outs. However, Claire Gibson grounded out to third and after a walk to Amanda Parsonage, Sarah Offutt and Harmon both popped up to second base to end the inning.

Tech loaded the bases in the top of the sixth inning as Frandrup and Gibson both singled and Offutt walked with two outs. However, Harmon grounded out to shortstop to end the threat.

Offutt and Knowles both came up with big defensive plays in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Fangonilo hit a fly ball to left field that the wind affected as Offutt had to make a sliding catch along the left field line for the second out of the frame.

With two outs, Brittany McConnell grounded to Waits at shortstop and Knowles dug a low throw out of the dirt for the third and final out of the inning.

Entering the seventh, Krieg had retired six straight. After retiring Lopez on a ground out to third, Krieg walked Breanna Lopez and Natasha Hawkins to put runners on first and second. Julianne Aiello then grounded out to shortstop moving the runners to second and third.

Pinch hitter Cheryl Frietas then drew a walk to load the bases and bring up Bott, who worked the count full before striking out for the final out of the game.

Krieg snapped two impressive hitting streaks as Fangonilo saw her 11-game streak come to an end while Aiello had her eight-game streak snapped. She ended the game with no runs, one hit, eight walks and eight strikeouts.

San Jose State was shutout for only the third time in 35 games and lost for only the second time in seven home games this season.

The two teams play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 2 p.m. CT as both contests can be heard at www.latechsports.com.