March 17, 2012

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RUSTON - Erin Kipp pitched her first career shutout and added three hits and three RBI to lead Louisiana Tech to an 8-0 win over Texas-Arlington Saturday afternoon as the Lady Techsters completed a two-game sweep of a non -conference doubleheader at the Lady Techster Softball Complex.

Tech (13-16) won the first game of the day 2-1 behind a strong pitching performance from junior Michelle Jones and run-scoring singles by Janna Frandrup and Melanie Goff.

Kipp (4-3) tossed a complete-game (6.0 IP) shutout in the second game of the day, allowing only five hits and walking one. The sophomore scattered the five hits, never allowing more than one hit in any one inning of action.

While Kipp was holding the Mavs (10-12) at bay, she also spearheaded a 13-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with one home run and three RBI.

After the two teams played a scoreless first two innings, Tech jumped out in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI single by Kendra Harmon scoring Dacia Hale who had led the frame off with a single. Frandrup then drove home pinch runner Janine Godwin with a two-out single to give LA Tech a 2-0 advantage.

The Lady Techsters added two more runs off UTA starter Teri Lyles in the bottom of the fourth. Erin Kipp started the scoring with a one-out, solo home run deep over the left field wall - her second of the season and her second in the last three games. Katelynn Hill followed with a double and scored on Hailey Winter's two-out RBI single, making the score 4-0.

Tech added a solo run in the fifth with Amanda Krueger doubled and then scored on Erin Kipp's RBI single up the middle.

The Lady Techsters ended the game in the sixth, scoring three runs on five hits. Godwin singled and advanced to second on a two-out single by Frandrup to right field. Alayna Kipp then singled home Godwin, making the score 6-0. Goff followed with a run-scoring single to right field, plating pinch runner Charday Wilson.

Erin Kipp then ended the game on run-scoring single off the left field wall, scoring pinch runner Rachel Allday for the game's final run.

In addition to Kipp's three-hit, three-RBI performance, Frandrup (2 hits, 1 RBI), Harmon (1 hit, 1 RBI), Krueger (1 hit), Godwin (1 hit, 2 runs), Alayna Kipp (1 hit, 1 RBI), Goff (1 hit, 1 RBI), Hill (1 hit, 1 run), Hale (1 hit, 1 run) and Winter (1 hit, 1 RBI) all contributed offensively.

In the first game of the day, Tech managed only five hits but Jones (8-7) recorded another solid effort in the circle for the win.

Tech took an early 1-0 lead in the first off UTA starter Callie Collins. Krueger singled with one out to centerfield but then advanced to third on a two-base fielding error by Stephanie Gonzalez. Frandrup followed with a run-scoring single to centerfield to give the Lady Techsters the 1-0 advantage.

UTA tied the game up in the top of the third inning when Kallan Thompson singled and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Gonzalez to make the score 1-1.

The Lady Techsters responded immediately. In the bottom of the third inning, Krueger walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Frandrup and scored on a two-out single up the middle by Goff, giving Tech the 2-1 lead.

Jones made the lead hold up, stranding four UTA runners on base over the final four innings of work as Tech snapped a three-game losing streak.

Jones allowed one run on five hits and no walks while striking out two in 7.0 innings of action.

Krueger, Frandrup, Goff, Alayna Kipp and Erin Kipp each registered one hit in the win.

The Lady Techsters return to action Tuesday when they host McNeese State at 4 p.m. in a doubleheader.