Feb. 19, 2012

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LAFAYETTE - Louisiana Tech received a pair of impressive pitching performances as the Lady Techsters split two games Sunday during the final day of the 2012 Mardi Gras Classic.

Tech (3-5) defeated UTEP 5-0 behind a complete-game performance from Michelle Jones and then fell to 20th ranked UL-Lafayette 9-0 despite a solid effort in the circle from Janna Frandrup.

In the win over the Miners, Jones (3-1) allowed only three hits and two walks while registering a career-high five strikeouts in 7.0 innings of action.

Tech took an early 2-0 lead in the third as UTEP committed a pair of errors in the frame. Jones led the frame off with an infield single and one out later Amanda Krueger and Frandrup walked to load the bases. Dacia Hale then drove home the first run with a ground ball to shortstop that was booted and then Meghan Knowles drove a ball to deep centerfield that was dropped as the second run scored. Knowles was credited with a sacrifice fly and an RBI.

Jones cruised until the sixth inning when UTEP loaded the bases on an error, a hit and a walk. Holding onto a slim two-run lead, Jones recorded a strikeout for the second out of the frame and then induced a ground ball out to shortstop to end the threat.

Tech added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh on four hits. Kendra Harmon single and Krueger followed with a double to put runners on second and third as Frandrup drove both runners home with a two-run single up the middle.

After pinch runner Charday Wilson was thrown out trying to steal, Hale and Knowles drew back-to-back walks and Allie Geisler singled down the left field line, driving home the third and final run of the inning.

Jones sealed the win by inducing three ground ball outs in the seventh.

Krueger led Tech with three hits and two runs while Frandrup (2 RBI), Harmon, Geisler (1 RBI), and Jones each registered one hit.

In the night cap against the Ragin' Cajuns, Frandrup threw 5.2 innings allowing only five hits and one earned run but was a victim of some defensive lapses in the top of the third inning. In that frame, Tech committed three errors as UL-Lafayette plated four runs on only two hits.

ULL freshman hurler Jordan Wallace was unhittable as she recorded her first career no-hitter, allowing only two base runners in six innings. Harmon drew a leadoff walk for Tech in the first and Alayna Kipp was hit by a pitch in the fifth.

The Ragin Cajuns put the game away in the sixth as Matte Haack led off with a solo home run off of Frandrup, who then retired the next two batters on line drive outs to the outfield.

Freshman Savannah Dollar then relieved Frandrup and struggled in her first career outing, walking two batters and allowing an infield single to load the bases. Dollar then surrendered a grand slam home run to Christie Orgeron, her sixth home run of the season.

Tech returns to action Tuesday when it travels to Conway to face Central Arkansas at 5 p.m.