April 2, 2013

Box Score

Montgomery YouTube

RUSTON - Janna Frandrup's run-scoring single in the bottom of the fifth inning proved to be the difference as Louisiana Tech defeated Nicholls State 6-5 Tuesday night in non-conference softball action at the Lady Techster Softball Complex.

Tech (18-15) built an early five-run lead and then held on for its fifth straight victory, its longest winning streak of the season.

The Lady Techsters jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Amanda Krueger walked and then moved to second on Kristen Miles infield single. After Erin Kipp moved both runners over with a ground out to first base, Melanie Goff singled to centerfield scoring Krueger with the game's first run.

One out later Miles scored from third base on a wild pitch by Nicholls State starter Hannah Haydel as Tech increased its lead to 2-0.

Tech then added three more runs in the bottom of the second inning. Dacia Hale started the scoring with a solo home run over the centerfield fence, her third in as many games and her fourth of the year. With two outs, Krueger walked, Miles and Erin Kipp both singled to load the bases for Goff, who then roped a single to centerfield plating two more runs for the 5-0 advantage.

After cruising through the first two innings in the circle, freshman Anna Cross gave up two runs on three hits in the top of the third inning as Brittany Marcet registered a two-out, two-run single up the middle, cutting Tech's lead to 5-2.

Michelle Jones relieved Cross in the top of the fifth inning. However, the senior was greeted harshly as Nicholls State tied the game by scoring three runs on three hits. The big blow was a two-out, two-run double by Courtney Vanlandingham down the left field line.

However, Tech answered in the bottom of the fifth. Alayna Kipp lined a one-out double to left centerfield and then Frandrup plated Jones - who was pinch running for Kipp - with a single past the glove of a diving NSU second baseman Ashley Bertot.

Goff came on in relief of Jones in the top of the seventh inning and retired all three batters she faced for her third save of the season.

Jones picked up her 10th win of the season, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks in 2.0 innings of action.

Offensively, Tech was led by Miles (3-3, 2 runs), Goff (2-4, 3 RBI, 1 SB), Krueger (2 runs, 1 SB), Erin Kipp (1-4), Alayna Kipp (1-3), Frandrup (1-3, 1 RBI), and Hale (1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI).

The Lady Techsters return to action Friday when they open a three-game WAC series at Texas State at 4 p.m.