Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Texas-San Antonio
Watkins Leads Tech Past UTSA
March 30, 2009 | Softball
March 30, 2009
SAN ANTONIO - Senior Alex Watkins led the Texas Tech Red Raiders past the UTSA Roadrunners, 9-1, in six innings Monday afternoon in San Antonio. Watkins went 3-4 on the day including a two-RBI double, a two-run home run, and a three-run home run to put seven runs across the plate in the Red Raider win. Watkins also pitched for Tech where she struck out a career high 10 batters to earn her third win of the season.
Texas Tech got runners on early when Leah Legler singled and Elizabeth Eimen was hit by a pitch to start off the game, but the Red Raiders were unable to put any across in the first. UTSA took advantage of an early walk, scoring the runner courtesy of two base hits by Leanne Risberg and Danye Holmes.
Tech sat down 1-2-3 in the second, but came out swinging in the third. Legler started the inning off with a single, and was advanced to second by a successful sacrifice by Eimen. With Legler on second, Megan Shupp drew a walk and both runners scored on a standup double by Watkins to take the lead, 2-1. Holley Gentsch singled to score Watkins, followed by a single from Emily Bledsoe to score Gentsch to give the Red Raiders the advantage, 4-1.
Texas Tech continued to belt out the hits in the fourth; Legler once again started the inning off with a single, but was thrown out stealing second. Elizabeth Eimen followed up with a single of her own and scored when Watkins hit a monster home run to center field to up the Tech lead to, 6-1.
In the sixth, Ashley Hamada started the inning off with a single followed by a single by Legler, her fourth on the day. The runners then advanced on a fielder's choice by Eimen. With runners on second and third, Watkins stepped up to the plate and belted her second home run of the day, this time down the left field line to give Tech the eight run lead, 9-1.
Down by eight runs, UTSA tried to extend the game by rallying in the bottom of the sixth wen Morgan Luksa reached on a wild pitch and advanced on a fielder's choice by Krista Sitka. Watkins struck out the next batter for her career high tenth strike out on the day. With two outs, Kristin Wehmeyer stepped to the plate but Gentsch picked off Luksa at second for the final out and to secure the Tech victory, 9-1.
Watkins batted in a new Texas Tech single-game record seven RBI's to go along with her two home runs, while striking out a new career high 10 batters, her previous high was eight against UTSA in 2008. Legler went 4-4 with four singles, three of them to lead off the inning. Eimen, Gentsch, Hamada, and Bledsoe all contributed a hit on the day as well.
Texas Tech will return home to face Kansas in a weekend series on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT, and 12 p.m. CT on Sunday. Fans can follow all the action at www.texastech.com.
