Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Illinois
Red Raiders Come from Behind to Beat Illinois, 5-2
February 23, 2007 | Softball
Feb. 23, 2007
Boca Raton, Fla. - Texas Tech (9-4) spotted Illinois two runs in the second, got a solo home run by freshman Amanda Myers in the fifth and then pushed four more across in the top of the sixth to come from behind and beat Illinois (5-6), 5-2, in game two of the Florida Atlantic Tournament. Ashly Jacobs (6-3) went the distance for the Red Raiders as the freshman allowed two runs on four hits and struck out six.
The Illini got a second-inning lead-off home run from first baseman Kristen Martin. With one out, Makenzie Smith singled and advanced on a ground ball out. Bailey Behrens singled to left center scoring Smith.
Myers led off the fifth with her solo shot to right center; it was her second home run of the season, (in eight at bats). In the sixth, with one out, Devin Zaragoza (.441 avg. entering the contest) singled. Pinch hitter Whitney Riley knocked a single through the left side and Zaragoza advanced to second. Jennifer Corkin promptly singled up the middle to plate Zaragoza and advance Riley to third. Danielle Matthews pinch ran for Corkin and stole second. Second baseman Jennifer Bowers smacked a double down the line in left, scoring both Riley and Matthews.
Play at the FAU tournament continues on Saturday with Texas Tech facing James Madison (3 p.m. CT) and the host school, Florida Atlantic (7 p.m. CT) as round robin play concludes.
In earlier action Friday morning: Senior center fielder Ashley Parker went three for four with two runs scored and two more driven in and outfield-mate Devin Zaragoza adds two hits, two runs and another knocked in as Texas Tech improves to 8-4 on the year, after beating Jacksonville, 8-0 (6 inning mercy rule), in game one of the Florida Atlantic Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla.
A. Parker led things off in the first with a single up the middle. She stole second and advanced to third when Zaragoza singled through the left side. Whitney Riley singled to center, plating Parker and advancing Zaragoza to third. Designated player Jennifer Corkin hit a sacrifice fly to left scoring Zaragoza. Riley, who had advanced to second in her at bat on a play at the plate, stole third and scored on an error by the Dolphins' catcher, Mora.
The Red Raiders' third inning played out much like the first, with A. Parker and Zaragoza singling. After a fielder's choice forced A. Parker at third, both Zaragoza and Riley advanced on a passed ball. Corkin reached on the rare catcher's interference. With two out and the bases loaded, Jennifer Bowers was plunked by a pitch scoring Zaragoza. Catcher Robyn Wike singled to left, scoring Riley, and the lead was 5-0.
The game ended in a mercy-rule (8 runs after five innings) when Texas Tech scored three in the bottom of the sixth as Heather Parker singled in the infield and advanced to second on Elizabeth Eimen's infield single (her second base knock). Both scored on A. Parker's triple down the right field line and then Zaragoza drove a fly ball to right field, good enough to score A. Parker and end the game at 8-0, with no one out in the sixth.
Sarah Losleben (3-1) pitched five strong innings, and issued only two hits and two walks and struck out four and combined with Alex Watkins (who gave up only one hit in an inning of work) on the shut-out, Tech's third of the season.
