Texas Tech Athletics
Maine
Tech Defeats Maine, 6-2
February 25, 2001 | Softball
Feb. 25, 2001
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Texas Tech softball squad defeated Maine, 6-2, in the first of three games Sunday in The Morning News Invitational, with senior Sandy Butler setting a new career hits record in the process.
Butler tied the record held by Paula Workman with a single in the bottom of the first, then surpassed the mark set last season with a single to right in the fourth. Butler's single in the first started a run-scoring inning for the Red Raiders. Carmen Grindell's infield single with two outs allowed senior Shauna Briggs to single up the middle and score Butler with the game's first run.
Tech added another run in the second when Britney Stolle doubled to the wall in center to leadoff, went to third on a fly ball to right by Tiffany Harrington, and scored on an infield single by Cartier.
Tech starter Amanda Renfro allowed just one hit in four innings, striking out seven. Maggie Ayres came on in relief for the second game in a row, and the Black Bears threatened in the sixth after a leadoff double by Amanda Stevens and a walk to Erica Sobel.
Maine's Leigh Ann Hlywak ripped a line drive to deep left, but Tech's Eva Harshman was able to run it down near the wall for the first out. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third before a two-out walk to Niki Taylor loaded the bases. Melissa Mather then drew a walk to force in a run and cut the deficit to 2-1.
Candace Jaeggee followed with another walk to tie the contest at two. Renfro reentered the contest, striking out Aliesha Rautenberg to end the inning, but not before Maine knotted the contest.
But the Red Raiders came back in their half of the sixth with four runs. Harrington walked to start the frame, followed by a bunt single from Rebecca Eimen. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch before Butler drove in the pair with a single to center.
Harshman walked and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Butler later scored on another wild pitch, and Harshman scored on a single by Stolle for a 6-2 Tech advantage.
Renfro picked up the victory, striking out nine in 5.1 innings, allowing just two hits. Butler went 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Stolle had a double and a single, one RBI and scored once. Briggs and Grindell also added a pair of hits in the victory.
