Texas Tech University Athletics
Softball Takes 1-0 Victory Over Cowboys
March 25, 2001 | Softball
March 25, 2001
STILLWATER, Okla. - - Texas Tech's Amanda Renfro threw nine scoreless innings and the Red Raider softball squad pushed across an unearned run in the ninth to post a 1-0 victory over Oklahoma State in Tech's opening conference game of the year.
Tech had chances in the fourth and sixth innings, but left a pair of runners on in each frame.
In both innings Shauna Briggs and Carmen Grindell both singled with two outs. In the fourth Andrea Joachims walked to load the bases before Britney Stolle's grounder in the hole between first and second was smothered by OSU's Lezli Leathers, who made the throw to first for the final out of the inning.
In the sixth, a hard grounder up the middle by Joachims was knocked down by shortstop Casey O'Neill diving to her left, and O'Neill tossed to Leathers for the force out at second to end the frame.
The Cowgirls had an great opportunity in their half of the fourth, as Ryan Realmuto doubled to right to start the inning and Lauren Bay followed with an infield single to put runners on the corners. After a short flyout to center, Angela Veronesi walked, loading the bases.
But Leathers and Nicci Quiroz both struck out, ending the inning and the best scoring chance in regulation.
In the eighth Briggs walked with two outs before Grindell blooped a single to left, her fourth hit of the game. But O'Neill charged a grounder that glanced off the pitcher's glove and threw out Joachims to end the inning.
The Red Raiders finally broke through in the ninth. Stolle singled down the right field line to start the frame and went to second on Rachelle Biber's sacrifice bunt. After a groundout, Tracy Cartier's slow roller between the mound and first was booted by the pitcher Bay, extending the inning. Sandy Butler then singled off the glove of the OSU third baseman, plating Stolle for a 1-0 Tech advantage.
Renfro (19-9) struck out 12 in her nine innings of work, a career high in punchouts versus OSU, her seventh career appearance versus the Cowgirls. She allowed just four hits and walked two.
Lauren Bay suffered the loss for OSU, allowing an unearned run on nine hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.
For Tech at the plate, Grindell went 4-for-4, tying a Tech record for hits in a game and only the second game in Tech history that a player was perfect at the plate in a game. Briggs also had a pair of hits in the win.
The two teams conclude the two-game series on Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m. at Cowgirl Stadium. The Red Raiders play Texas A&M Wednesday at 1 and 3 p.m. at Rocky Johnson Field on the Tech campus.
