Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Iowa St
Iowa State Slips Past Tech to Split Series
March 28, 2004 | Softball
March 28, 2004
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech softball could not complete the two game sweep of Iowa State in the team's conference opening series as the Lady Raiders fell to the Cyclones 7-4 this afternoon at Rocky Johnson Field to split the series.
The Cyclones (8-17; 1-1 Big 12) drew first blood in the game, scoring in the top of the second inning. With two outs, an error by Tech shortstop Heather Parker allowed a base runner. Iowa State capitalized, scoring on a double in the next at bat for a 1-0 ISU lead.
The Lady Raiders (17-20; 1-1 Big 12) would respond in the bottom half of the inning. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Lisa Lawler singled and scored a batter later when Heather Parker hit her second double of the season to left center field. Sister Ashley Parker followed with a single to center field allowing Heather to score from second and give Tech a 2-0 lead.
Iowa State pitcher Katie Reichling would help her own cause in the top of the third inning, taking a pitch from Tech starter Julie Hauck over the right field wall for a solo home run.
Natalie Enderlin answered for the Lady Raiders, adding her fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the third to recapture the lead for Tech at 3-2. During the inning senior Elyssa Sigala would single through the right side of the infield to extend her school-record hitting streak to 21 games, while junior Kelly Rhyne would go 0-3 on the day to snap her career high 11 game hitting streak.
Tech would run into trouble in the top of the fourth, when after a leadoff hit, Hauck left the game with an injury and was replaced by Keely Tucker. Tucker would be charged with three illegal pitches in the inning and the Lady Raider defense committed an error to allow the Cyclones to score three runs and take a 5-3 lead.
The Cyclones added a pair of runs in the fifth off of reliever Kassy Planck to take a 7-3 lead.
Tech attempted to rally in the bottom of the sixth, but could only chip one run off the Iowa State lead. Lawler hit a one-out double for her second hit of the game and was lifted for pinch runner Amanda Oakes, who scored two batters later on a double by Ashley Parker. Parker finished the game with three hits for her sixth multiple hit game of the season.
Texas Tech Softball will be back in action on Wednesday, March 31, when they host New Mexico State in a doubleheader at Rocky Johnson Field, with games starting at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The team will travel to Lawrence, Kansas, for a Big 12 match up against Kansas next weekend.
