March 26, 2011

Box Score

RUSTON - Meghan Krieg pitched another gem but Fresno State scored an unearned run in the top of the ninth to defeat Louisiana Tech 2-1 in extra innings, sweeping the three-game Western Athletic Conference series from the Lady Techsters.

Fresno State (19-8, 3-0 WAC) won the first game of the doubleheader 10-1.

In the nightcap, Tech (9-24, 0-3 WAC) sent the game into extra innings when catcher Allie Geisler belted a one-out solo home run over the right centerfield wall in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game at 1-1.

After both teams failed to score in the eighth inning, Fresno State capitalized on an error by LA Tech in the top of the ninth inning. Bulldog catcher Caitlin Stiglich singled to lead the frame off and then advanced to second when Tech second baseman Heather Doiron dropped a throw from third baseman Molly Goza on a force play off the bat of Andrea Ortega.

Nicole Angene then flew out to deep centerfield as Fresno State pinch runner Diane Runge scored all the way from second base, giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead. Krieg then retired Demi Walker and Becca Walker, stranding a potential third run on third base.

Fresno State pitcher MacKenzie Oakes wasted little time in recording two outs in the bottom of the ninth before carefully working around Geisler, who drew a walk. Oakes then induced a ground ball out by Doiron to end the game.

Both Krieg and Oakes took a scoreless game into the sixth inning when Fresno State finally plated the game's first run. After Haley Gilleland singled to start the frame, Geisler threw Gilleland out attempting to steal second - the first time in 13 stolen base attempts that Gilleland had been caught this year.

With one out, Brooke Ortiz then lined a pitch to right field that Tech outfielder Kendra Harmon misjudged off the bat as the ball skipped off the top of Harmon's glove for a triple. After Michelle Moses was intentionally walked, Courtney Moore laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to score Ortiz from third with the game's first run.

Krieg (5-12) took the loss despite surrendering only two runs - one earned - on five hits and three walks while striking out seven in 9.0 innings of work. During the two games Krieg pitched against the Bulldogs during the series, she surrendered only four runs - three earned - on only eight hits in 16.0 innings of action.

Oakes (12-2) earned the win, allowing only one run on four hits and one walk while striking out six.

Meghan Knowles led Tech with two hits while Geisler and Michelle Jones each added one.

In the first game of the day, Fresno State scored in all but one inning as the Bulldogs pulled out the 10-1 victory.

Freshman Erin Kipp got the start in the circle for Tech and pitched admirably before the Bulldogs finally got the best of her in the fifth.

Kipp surrendered a single run in each of the first four innings, while working out of a number of potential jams along the way. However, in the top of the fifth inning, Fresno State plated four runs on three hits and one error to blow the game open.

Tech's lone run of the contest against Fresno State starter Michelle Moses came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Geisler led the frame off with a triple to right centerfield. One out later, Knowles singled to left field to plate Geisler.

Kipp (1-6) took the loss, allowing eight runs - six earned - on 10 hits and two walks while striking out one in 4.1 innings of action. Michelle Jones came on in relief and worked the final 2.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks.

Harmon, Charday Wilson, Geisler and Knowles recorded one hit each in the loss.

Tech returns to action next weekend when the Lady Techsters travel to Reno to face Nevada in a three-game series.