March 4, 2012

Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Sophomores Erin Kipp and Katelynn Hill combined for five hits and five RBI to lead Louisiana Tech to an 8-6 victory over Eastern Illinois Sunday in the final day of the 2012 Bulldog Classic hosted by Mississippi State.

With the victory, Tech (10-9) finished the weekend 3-2 after falling twice in the opening day of the event and was the unofficial runner-up to the host Bulldogs, who were a perfect 5-0 at the tournament.

In Sunday's win over the Panthers, Kipp (3-3) pitched superbly through the first six innings before getting into some trouble in the bottom of the seventh. However, junior Janna Frandrup came on in relief with the bases loaded and two outs and induced a ground ball out for the final out of the game, earning Frandrup her first save of the season.

"I thought Erin pitched really well," said Tech head coach Sarah Dawson. "I think any time a batter sees a pitcher (three or four times through the order), the advantage goes to the batter. They got to her late. I told Erin it was good to see her determination to want to finish the game. However, it got to the point we needed to give (Eastern Illinois) something else to figure out. Janna did a good job of coming in and finishing the last batter."

Tech took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as five of the first six batters reached base safely. Kendra Harmon and Amanda Krueger led the contest off with singles and one out later, Dacia Hale drew a walk to load the bases. Kipp and Hill then recorded back-to-back RBI singles up the middle as the Lady Techsters jumped out on top.

"In the first inning, we were getting hits by being aggressive and going after pitches early in the count," Dawson said. "We weren't as disciplined the next few innings and hit some weak grounders on balls on the corner of the plate. We weren't as aggressive. In the fifth, we started hitting earlier in the count and going after the first pitch strike which (EIU's pitcher) was pretty consistent throwing."

After surrendering a leadoff home run to the very first batter she faced in the bottom of the first, Kipp settled down and cruised through the first four innings, allowing only one run on three hits as Tech held the 2-1 advantage.

The Lady Techsters then erupted for five runs on three hits and two EIU errors in the top of the fifth inning to increase their lead to 7-1. Krueger doubled with one out and after Janna Frandrup walked, Hale reached on a fielder's choice where the EIU second baseman dropped a throw allowing Krueger to score and leaving runners on first and third.

Kipp then followed with an RBI single down the right field line, plating pinch runner Charday Wilson and upping the advantage to 4-1. Hale scored from third when Kipp stole second base and EIU made its second error of the frame on the throw to second base.

Hill followed with a two-run home run to right centerfield - her team-leading fifth of the season - as Tech led 7-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

EIU answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame on a two-run home run off of Kipp, as the lead was cut to 7-3.

Tech added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning as Krueger and Kipp both recorded their third hits of the game.

Leading 8-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Kipp retired two of the first four hitters she faced and was one out away from the complete-game victory. However, three singles, two errors, a hit batter and a passed ball gave the Panthers life as EIU cut the lead to 8-6 and had the bases loaded. Frandrup came on in relief and retired the final batter for the win.

Tech's 11-hit attack was led by Kipp (3 hits, 2 RBI), Hill (2 hits, HR, 3 RBI), Krueger (3 hits, 3 runs), Harmon (1 hit, 1 run), Frandrup (1 hit), and Hailey Winter (2B).

For the week's six games, Tech totaled 14 extra base hits, including six home runs, something that Dawson said doesn't surprise her.

"We know we have power," she said. "We aren't necessarily going to be a home run hitting team. We have a lot of gap power and we are always working on hitting hard line drives. Our home runs need to be mistakes that we happened to lift or drive out of the park. We are not swinging for the fences. We are a team though that has the ability to hit the ball a long way."

Hill and Knowles were named to the all-tournament team following their performances.

Hill batted .385 during the five games, recording five hits in 13 at bats. The Dallas, Texas native registered one double and one home run - her team-leading fifth of the season - along with four RBI. She also added her first two stolen bases of the year.

Knowles batted .231 with three hits in 13 at bats. The McKinney, Texas native had three extra base hits, including her first two home runs of the season and her first career grand slam. She led Tech with six RBI and 10 total bases during the tournament.

Hill and Knowles will lead the Lady Techsters into Tuesday's road doubleheader at Top 25 Baylor in Waco.