April 30, 2011

Box Score

RUSTON - San Jose State capitalized on five errors and some poor base-running to defeat Louisiana Tech 4-1 in the first game of a Western Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday.

The Spartans also took game two 5-3 to sweep the doubleheader.

With the losses, Tech (13-36, 4-14 WAC) now enters the final weekend of the regular season needing to go to Logan, Utah and most likely sweep while also needing some help from Hawaii who visits San Jose State.

In game one of the day, Meghan Krieg recorded another solid pitching performance but San Jose State scored three unearned runs on five Louisiana Tech errors to come-from-behind and win.

Tech took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning but wasted an opportunity to blow the game wide open. With the bases loaded and no outs, Heather Doiron grounded back to the pitcher who fired home to get the lead runner for the first out as the Lady Techsters still had the bases full.

Janna Frandrup then scored on a wild pitch by Spartan starter Jennifer Ames as Tech took the 1-0 lead.

With runners on second and third and one out, Meghan Knowles hit a pop up that Spartan second baseman Cheryl Freitas caught at the cut of the outfield grass. However, Allie Geisler tried to tag up and was caught in a rundown for the third and final out of the frame.

San Jose State then plated two runs in the top of the fifth inning as Freitas led off with a double and then advanced to third one out later on a fielding error by Doiron that allowed the runner to reach. With runners on first and third, Britney Helm lined a double to left centerfield, plating two and giving the Spartans a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Tech led the frame off with a single by Doiron and a double by Knowles to put runners on second and third with no outs. Rachel Allday came on to pinch runner for Knowles and was doubled off second on a soft liner by Molly Goza to Freitas.

Tricia Van Winkle then pinch hit and flied out deep to left field, a ball that would have scored the tying run if not for the double play on the previous play.

In the top of the seventh, Krieg retired the first two batters she faced before hitting Stephanie Ziemann. With a runner on first and two outs, Breanna Lopez hit a routine ground ball to shortstop the Michelle Jones booted. On the play, Jones fired the ball back in to Goza at third who then tried to throw Lopez out at first base.

However, Goza's throw sailed wide, allowing a run to score, upping the advantage to 3-1. Alex Stange then followed with an RBI single to make the score 4-1.

In the bottom of the seventh, Kendra Harmon singled and pinch hitter Katelynn Hill drew a out-out walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Frandrup then hit a shallow fly ball to centerfield that Helms made a routine play on as she doubled off Charday Wilson at first for the final out of the game.

Krieg (8-21) took the loss, allowing four runs - only one earned - on five hits and four walks while striking out four.

Harmon led Tech with two hits while Frandrup, Doiron, Knowles and Jones each registered one hit.

In the second game of the day, San Jose State plated four runs on six hits in the top of the third inning and held off a late Lady Techster rally in the 5-3 Spartan win.

Tech once again took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run by Frandrup in the bottom of the first inning off Spartan starter Elyssa Fox.

Jones, who got the start in the circle and cruised through the first two innings, saw three straight Spartans single with one out in the inning to give SJSU a 2-0 lead. Frandrup relieved Jones and then allowed a two singles and a double to three of the first four batters she faced as SJSU added two more runs.

After SJSU added a run in the top of the fifth to make the score 5-1, Tech plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth as Doiron reached on an error and Knowles hit her fourth home run of the season over the left field wall, cutting the advantage to 5-3.

One out later, Erin Kipp doubled to centerfield, chasing Fox as Alex Molina came on to pitch for SJSU. Fox walked two of the next three hitters to load the bases with two outs as Frandrup came to the plate.

On a 2-2 pitch that was low to Frandrup, the Spartans appealed to the third base umpire who said Frandrup went around - ending the threat for the Lady Techsters and drawing a lengthy argument from Tech head coach Sarah Dawson.

In the top of the seventh inning, Meghan Krieg, who came on in relief of Frandrup to start the sixth, recorded her 800th career strikeout - only the second Tech pitcher to ever reach the milestone.

Tech had one more opportunity to make some noise in the seventh as Kipp lined a one-out single to centerfield. However, Hill then hit a soft liner back to Molina who caught it and doubled Kipp off of first base for the final out of the game.

Kipp led Tech with two hits while Frandrup and Knowles each homered.

Following the contests, Krieg, Goza and Doiron were all honored as the three seniors played their final home games in Ruston. The trio have helped the Lady Techsters to 110 wins, a WAC Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament appearance during their careers.

Tech ends the regular season next weekend when it travels to Logan to face Utah State in a three-game series.