April 23, 2011

Box Score

LAS CRUCES, NM - Teresa Conrad hit a three-run walk off home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift WAC leader New Mexico State to a 5-4 win over Louisiana Tech in the first game of a league doubleheader at the NMSU Softball Complex Saturday.

The Aggies (36-12, 14-1 WAC) then came from behind to win the second game of the day, sweeping the three-game series.

Tech (12-34, 3-12 WAC) lost all three games despite outhitting one of the nation's top offensive teams as the Lady Techsters recorded 23 hits compared to NMSU's 17 as the Aggies entered the weekend ranked in the Top 15 in the country with a .350 team average.

In the first game of the day, Tech was three outs away from the upset before NMSU's bats came alive.

After Meghan Knowles gave Tech a 4-2 advantage in the top of the eighth inning on a two-out, two-run home run over the right centerfield fence, NMSU answered.

Kandis Jones led off with a single to left field and after Tiare Jennings popped up for the first out of the inning, Hoku Nohara hit what appeared to be a routine grounder to second base. However, the ball took a bad hop left past Techster second baseman Heather Doiron for a single to put runners on first and second.

Conrad took the first pitch she saw deep over the left centerfield fence for the game-winning home run as New Mexico State improved its winning streak to nine games.

Prior to the bottom of the eighth inning, Techster starter Meghan Krieg dominated in the circle, surrendering only one base hit to one of the nation's top hitting teams.

NMSU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on an unearned run as Vanessa Valles scored when Tech left fielder Christina Gamboa dropped a fly ball to left centerfield that would have been the final out of the frame.

The Lady Techsters had a great opportunity to take the lead in the top of the fifth inning when Doiron, Molly Goza and Gamboa singled to load the bases with one out. However, pinch hitter Cassie Krieg struck out swinging and Kendra Harmon grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.

Krieg took a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth inning when Tehani Kaaihue hit a solo home run over the left field fence to up the Aggies advantage to 2-0.

Tech finally struck paydirt in the top of the sixth inning as Charday Wilson and Janna Frandrup singled and Allie Geisler walked to load the bases with no outs. Doiron then lined a double to right field, plating two runs and tying the game at 2-2.

The Lady Techsters were unable to add runs as Knowles flew out to shallow centerfield and Goza grounded back to the pitcher who threw home to get Geisler at the plate. Gamboa then flew out for the final out of the frame.

The game remained tied until the top of the eighth inning when Frandrup drew a leadoff before being erased on a fielders choice by Geisler who reached first. After Doiron lined out to shortstop for the second out, Knowles hammered her third home run, giving Tech a 4-2 advantage.

Krieg (7-20) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on only four hits while walking six and striking out eight.

Wilson, Frandrup, Doiron and Goza each registered two hits while Knowles and Gamboa each registered one hit.

In the nightcap, Tech led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning before the Aggies plated a single run in both the fifth and the sixth to take a 3-2 lead.

The Lady Techsters loaded the bases with only one out in the top of the seventh inning but Harmon popped up to third base and pinch hitter Rachel Allday grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

Sophomore Janna Frandrup (1-3) was solid in the circle, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and one walk in the complete-game performance.

Trailing 1-0, Tech took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second as Geisler and Doiron singled and then scored on a two-run double by Goza to right field.

The Lady Techsters wasted an opportunity to add onto its lead in the top of the fourth inning after Geisler doubled and Doiron followed with a single to put runners on first and third with no outs. After Doiron stole second base, Knowles then blooped a single the fell over the pitchers head but Doiron was called out on interference with the NMSU shortstop for the first out as Geisler was placed back on third and Knowles on first.

With Goza at the plate and one out, Knowles was then caught stealing for the second out. Goza then flew out to deep centerfield for the third and final out of the inning.

NMSU freshman Valerie Swedberg then homered off of Frandrup in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at 2-2. The Aggies then loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth as Conrad plated a run on a single to centerfield.

Frandrup pitched her way out of the jam as the Aggies took a 3-2 lead into the seventh. In the top of the seventh, Goza drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a single by Cassie Krieg to left field.

Pinch hitter Erin Kipp then hit a routine grounder to short that was misplayed as the bases were loaded with only one out. However, Kelsey Schueler recorded two straight outs to end the game.

Geisler and Doiron each registered two hits in the game.