Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Utah
Lady Raiders Fall 3-2 In First Game of Tourney
February 07, 2003 | Softball
Feb. 7, 2003
Phoenix, Ariz. - Texas Tech softball played the Utah Utes in the first game of the Fiesta Bowl Classic in Phoenix, Arizona to a 3-2 finish. The Lady Raiders and Utes had an equal six hits but Tech could not move the players around to home.
It was a promising first inning for the Lady Raiders as pitcher Amie Stines struck out two and was assisted by first baseman Elyssa Sigala to leave the Utes scoreless in the top of the first. Tech's half of the inning saw shortstop Kristi Robles step up to the plate and with two strikeouts before her, slam a homerun to put the Lady Raiders on the board.
As promising as the first was for the Lady Raiders, the third was for the Utes. They leapt on the board, scoring three runs including two run single by Masie Ota.
The bottom of the second catcher Lisa Lawler broke out of her dry spell, after going 0-13 at the SWT/Century Tel Bobcat Classic, and singled to left field pushing Andrea Joachims to third but Tech did not score leaving the score 3-1 heading into the third.
The teams held each other scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when Kelly Rhyne stepped up for her third homerun of the season. Defensively, Rhyne caught a long fly to left field to avoid a big hit for the Utes.
Coming into the seventh 3-2, lead off hitter Gipson would kick it off for the Lady Raiders hitting an infield single but Tech could not capitalize on this and was handed a 3-2 loss.
Tech's (2-4) next opponent is #15 Oregon State.
