Texas Tech Athletics
Maine
Tech Softball Takes Out Maine, 6-2
February 24, 2001 | Softball
Feb. 24, 2001
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Texas Tech softball team used a three-run first inning to take an early lead and never looked back in defeating Maine, 6-2, on Saturday at The Morning News Invitational hosted by the University of Arkansas.
The Red Raiders got things started early with a leadoff walk to Tracey Cartier. Eva Harshman then tripled into the right field corner to plate Cartier, and Harshman scored on a single to left by Jana Baker.
Tech's third run of the opening inning scored on a throwing error by the Maine catcher, as she tried to pickoff Carmen Grindell from third when Ashley Ready was stealing second. The throw was low and went into left field, allowing Grindell to give the Red Raiders an early 3-0 advantage.
The Maine (0-2) leadoff batter popped out, then Renfro struck out the next eight Black Bear hitters before Sara Asadoorian led off the fourth with a slap single to left. Asadoorian went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Amanda Stevens and third on a deep fly ball to right from Erica Sobel. The leadoff hitter scored on a throwing error, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
The Red Raiders (6-5) extended the lead in the fifth when Cartier reached on an error to start the frame. Harshman followed with a double off the left field wall. Cartier scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Baker, and Grindell also drove in a run with a sac fly, giving Tech a 5-1 advantage.
The Black Bears pushed across a run in the bottom of the fifth off Tech reliever Maggie Ayres, cutting the deficit to 5-2. But Tech came to get a run in the sixth, courtesy of a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Shauna Briggs.
Renfro (6-5) picked up the victory, striking out nine in four innings of work, allowing an unearned run. Ayres threw the final three frames for the save, striking out two and giving up one run.
Harshman had a double and a triple, scored twice and drove in a run, and Baker had two RBIs for Tech. Cartier also scored twice for the Red Raiders, who evened their record in the tourney to 1-1.
Maine starter Carrie Green suffered the loss, allowing five runs, three earned, on five hits in five innings.
Tech is scheduled to play Maine at 9 a.m. Sunday morning in a single game, then take on host Arkansas in a doubleheader at 4 p.m.
