April 25, 2010

Box Score

RUSTON - Freshman Janna Frandrup was stellar in the circle and senior Jessica Kirby recorded the key hit as Louisiana Tech defeated Boise State 4-3 in the second game of a Western Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday at the Lady Techster Softball Complex.

Tech (22-17, 7-8 WAC) fell in the first game of the day 3-2 despite Meghan Krieg's complete-game three-hit performance in the circle.

In the final game, Frandrup (1-1) recorded her first collegiate victory, throwing seven innings while allowing three runs - only one earned - on six hits and no walks.

The Phoenix, Arizona native gave up two runs in the top of the first inning as a pair of infield singles, sacrifice fly and throwing error led to the early Broncos lead.

Tech answered back in the bottom of the first as Amberly Waits hit a solo home run over the left centerfield fence with two outs, cutting the Boise State advantage to 2-1. It was the last pitch Waits would see on the day as she was intentionally walked twice, including right before Kirby's late inning heroics.

The score remained 2-1 as Frandrup dueled with Boise State starter Aubray Zell, who allowed only a third inning single by Kylie Bassett until the bottom of the sixth inning.

After Boise State scored a second unearned run in the top of the sixth to make the score 3-1, Tech finally put a rally together. Bassett led the bottom of the sixth off with a single to left field and then Boise State intentionally walked Waits to put runners on first and second with no outs.

A passed ball allowed both runners to advance a base before Kirby lined a 1-2 pitch to right centerfield for a two-run double, tying the game at 3-3. The double broke a 1-for-21 streak by the senior from Spring, Texas who came up big in the clutch.

Chrissy Short came on to pinch run for Kirby as Lela Work came on in relief of Zell. Frandrup was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second and a wild pitch allowed both runners to advance to second and third. After strikeouts by Molly Goza and Heather Doiron, pinch hitter Valerie Quiroga popped up in front of home plate.

However, Boise State catcher Tazz Weatherly was hesitant to call the ball as it finally fell to the ground through Weatherly's arms for an error as Short crossed the plate for the go-ahead run.

Frandrup retired all three batters she faced in the top of the seventh for the win.

Tech collected only four hits in the win, two by Bassett, one by Waits and one by Kirby.

In the first game of the day, Krieg (16-13) was the tough-luck loser once again despite giving up only three hits and one earned run in the complete-game performance.

Boise State once again jumped out early as Vanessa Alvarez singled home Kelli Caplan to give the Broncos a 1-0 advantage.

Tech tied the game in the bottom of the third inning as Waits hit a towering home run to right centerfield off Broncos starter Allie Crump. Waits was 2-for-2 in the contest.

The game remained tied until the top of the sixth inning when Krieg issued back-to-back walks. With runners on second and third and two outs, Boise State rightfielder Holly Bourke hit a grounder to Waits that she fielded cleanly before throwing wide of first base allowing both runners to score and giving the Broncos a 3-1 lead.

Tech answered with a lone run in the bottom half of the sixth inning as Waits scored on a two-out error by Broncos second baseman Kelly Sweeney on a line drive hit by Doiron.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Kendra Harmon singled to centerfield before Bassett hit a line drive one hopper up the middle that Broncos shortstop Jesse Hanna fielded and stepped on the bag just in time to retire Harmon for the final out of the contest.

Krieg lost after allowing three runs - one earned - on three hits and three walks while striking out six in the game.

Tech returns to action Friday when it hosts Nevada in the first game of a three-game series.