March 4, 2011

North Texas Box Score

UTA Box Score

DENTON - Louisiana Tech split a pair of one-run games during the first day of the North Texas Courtyard Classic with the Lady Techsters defeating Texas-Arlington 7-6 in the first game before falling to the host Eagles 3-2 in the second contest.

In the first game of the day, Tech saw Texas-Arlington (11-7) plate five runs in the top of the first inning on five hits and two walks off Lady Techster starter Michelle Jones.

However, the Lady Techsters fought back by plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame as Heather Doiron recorded a two-out RBI double, scoring Janna Frandrup and Tricia Van Winkle to cut the deficit to 5-2.

After the Lady Mavs added a single run in the second, Tech answered as Frandrup drove in Kendra Harmon with a two-out RBI single, making the score 6-3. Then in the bottom of the third inning the Lady Techsters tied the game on a Meghan Knowles RBI single and a Cassie Krieg two-run single.

Jones settled down retiring six of seven batters in the third and fourth frames, giving her team an opportunity to continue the rally. The Lady Techsters took advantage and took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning.

With Charday Wilson on third and Allie Geisler on first with two outs, Tech utilized a double steal to take the lead as Wilson scored giving the Lady Techsters the 7-6 advantage after four innings.

UTA threatened in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs, a single and a walk put runners on first and second as Meghan Krieg came into the game to relieve Jones. However, Krieg didn't have to retire a batter as catcher Tricia Van Winkle threw out a potential base stealer ending the frame.

Krieg then dominated the Lady Mavs in the top of the seventh inning, striking out all three batters she faced to end the game.

"It was a good challenge to come back," said Tech head coach Sarah Dawson. "I was proud of them. We answered their five spot with two of our own in the first. In fact we scored in the first four innings. We played well. We stole bases. We fought back.

"We had a number of two-out rallies. It was good to see. I thought we had a good approach at the plate."

Jones (3-1) earned the win, allowing six earned runs on eight hits and six walks in 5.2 innings of work while Krieg (1) picked up her first save of the year pitching a perfect 1.1 innings in relief.

"Michelle did a good job of coming back and being competitive after the first inning," Dawson said. "That was big for her and big for us."

Offensively, Cassie Krieg recorded three hits while Harmon, Frandrup, Wilson, Doiron, Molly Goza and Knowles each registered one hit. Krieg and Doiron had two RBI each.

In the second game of the day, Meghan Krieg dominated, striking out 12 batters but a pair of second inning home runs by North Texas proved to be the difference.

Tech struck first in the top of the first inning, capitalizing on a pair of North Texas errors to plate two unearned runs. Harmon led the frame off with a single before being retired on a fielder's choice by Cassie Krieg.

However, Krieg scored on an error by the North Texas third baseman on a ball hit by Frandrup, giving Tech a 1-0 lead. Frandrup then scored on a two-out error by the North Texas second baseman, upping the advantage to 2-0.

North Texas answered in the bottom of the second on a Renae Bromley two-run home run and a Jordan Terry solo home run, giving the Eagles a 3-2 advantage.

Both pitchers then settled in as Krieg worked her way out of a couple of two-out jams in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings as North Texas stranded eight runners in those three frames.

The Lady Techsters had a couple of chances to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning. Geisler led off the frame on a single that hit the top of the centerfield wall.

"When it left her bat, I didn't think there was any way it was staying in the park," Dawson said. "Somehow it did."

Pinch runner Rachel Allday came in to run for Geisler and advanced to second on a ground out by Meghan Knowles. With one out and the tying run on second, pinch hitter Erin Kipp singled off the shortstops glove to put runners on first and second.

Harmon then hit a screaming line drive that the North Texas second baseman snared out of the air for the second out of the inning. With Cassie Krieg at the plate, Allday tried to advance to third on a ball that got away from the North Texas catcher but was thrown out for the final out of the game.

Krieg (1-7) took another tough loss in the circle, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out 12 batters in 6.0 innings of work.

"For the most part she started ahead of the batters," Dawson said. "She gave up a couple of walks on good at bats by their hitters where they fouled off a number of pitches. She wasn't getting too many calls on the outside of the plate which extended a number of at bats and innings. She really pitched pretty well.

"I was more disappointed that we didn't hit better. The (North Texas) pitcher did a nice job but wasn't doing anything special. We just didn't have as good of an approach at the plate as we did in game one."

Harmon, Frandrup, Geisler, Knowles and Kipp each registered on hit for the Lady Techsters.

Tech returns to action Saturday when they face UTEP at 10 a.m. and Ole Miss at 12:30 p.m.