Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Pacific
Tech, Pacific End In 7-7 Tie
March 02, 2009 | Softball
March 2, 2009
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Texas Tech softball was credited with the win, 7-0, over Pacific due to travel arrangements forcing the Tigers to forfeit the game at a 7-7 tie at the end of nine innings. Alex Watkins hit a three-run home run in the first inning and pitched seven and two-thirds scoreless innings to pace Texas Tech.
Stephanie Drewry got the game started with a single, followed by Leah Legler with a single of her own advancing Drewry to second. With two on, Megan Shupp singled p the middle to score Drewry. With runners on first and second, Alex Watkins blasted a three-run home run over the left field wall to give Tech the lead, 4-0. Pacific got three runs back in the bottom of the frame on a single, a walk and a pair of Tech errors off starter, Ashly Jacobs.
The Tigers seemingly pulled ahead in the second scoring four runs on a pair of singles, a double, and a home run making the score, 7-4. Tech would claw its way back when Holley Gentsch reached after being hit by a pitch, and was brought home on a single by Emily Bledsoe to pull within two, 7-5.
With two outs and two on in the top of the seventh, Jennifer Lee roped a pinch-hit single to score Eimen and Shupp to tie the game at, 7-7, in regulation. In the bottom half of the ninth, Pacific failed to convert as Shupp caught a line drive and threw a perfect strike to catcher Lee to nail a Tigers' runner attempting to score from third. After the double play and with the game remaining deadlocked after nine, Pacific forfeited the game due to travel arrangements, apparently crediting Texas Tech with a 7-0 win. (The game was originally scheduled to start at 10 a.m., but inclement weather forced an hour's delay.)
Watkins pitched seven and two-thirds innings striking out six, and hit a three-run home run and walked (or was walked) a Red Raiders' record four times. Leah Legler went 2-4 on the day with a pair of singles, while Emily Bledsoe had two hits of her own.
Per NCAA rules, the player's statistics will count, but the pitcher will not be credited with a win despite the outcome of an ongoing appeal.
Texas Tech will next travel to Las Vegas, Nev. to participate in the UNLV Invitational March 6-8, 2009. Fans can follow the action live at www.texastech.com
Note: We apologize for the delay in the posting of this story, the game is under NCAA review.
