Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Oklahoma State
Tech Drops 2-1 Decision to Oklahoma State
May 12, 2001 | Softball
May 12, 2001
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Texas Tech softball team dropped a 2-1 decision to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Tournament Sunday morning, ending a run through the loser's bracket just one game away from the tournament championship game.
The Cowgirls (28-22) had two runners reach in the first on a pair of Tech errors by shortstop Rebecca Eimen. Eimen misplayed a line drive off the bat of OSU's Danielle Thomas, but Thomas was called out for leaving early on a stolen base attempt. Eimen then made a wild throw to first on a grounder from Amanda Hayes, but Ryan Realmuto grounded out to Eimen to end the inning.
OSU also got two on in the second with a walk and a single, but Tech starter Maggie Ayres worked out of the game with a pair of strikeouts.
The Cowgirls again had runners on in the third, as Jenny Kipp led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Thomas. Hayes then singled to center, but Kipp was gunned down at the plate by Tech's Sandy Butler, who made a perfect throw to the plate for the out.
The Red Raiders (35-22) had a scoring chance in the bottom half of the third, with Tracy Cartier beating out a bunt single and Sandy Butler dumping a single over the head of the OSU third baseman. But Eimen lined out to center and Shauna Briggs grounded out to end the threat.
OSU got on the board in the fourth, as Stephanie Hodges walked to start the inning. Teresa Ritchie grounded to Tech third baseman Andrea Joachims, who threw to second for the force, but Britney Stolle's dropped the throw, allowing both runners to reach.
The Red Raiders made a pitching change, bringing in Amanda Renfro, but Jade Lindly greeted Renfro with a double to leftcenter, plating Hodges for a 1-0 Cowgirl lead.
OSU added another run in the fifth when Hayes singled to right with one out and advanced to second on an error by Cartier in right. Hayes went to third on a long flyout to center by Ryan Realmuto, and scored on a bloop single over the head of Joachims by Hodges, scoring Hayes for a 2-0 OSU advantage.
The Red Raiders cut into the lead in their half of the fifth when Butler singled sharply to left with two outs, and the ball took a nasty hop over the shoulder of OSU leftfielder Hayes. Butler went all the way to third on the play, and scored on Eimen's single up the middle.
A leadoff double to rightcenter by Briggs chased OSU starter Lauren Bay, who allowed six hits and struck out one. Tiffany Paper came on in relief for the Cowgirls, and walked Carmen Grindell to put two on with no one out.
Joachims struck out looking, but Jana Baker hit the first pitch high and deep down the leftfield line, but just foul. She ended up grounding back to the pitcher, and Paper made a nice play on a grounder up the middle from Stolle, ending the threat and holding onto a 2-1 lead for OSU.
Cartier singled to left with one out in the seventh and Eimen was hit by a pitch with two outs. Paper then hit Briggs to load the bases, but Grindell popped out to end the contest.
Ayres (3-5) suffered another tough loss, allowing an unearned run on three hits in three plus innings of work. She walked two and struck out two. Renfro gave up an unearned run and had two strikeouts, the latter of which was the 1200th of her career.
Bay (15-11) got the win, while Paper walked one gave up one hit, striking out two in picking up her second save of the season.
Oklahoma State will face Oklahoma in the tournament championship later today, while the Red Raiders will head home and await Sunday's NCAA Tournament selection announcement, to find out if and where Tech will play.
