Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Maine
Tech Gets Pair of Wins
February 19, 2010 | Softball
Feb. 19, 2010
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech moves to 6-1 on the season with a pair of one-run wins in action at Rocky Johnson field in the home opening day for the squad. The Red Raiders beat Maine (1-6), 4-3 and then came back to beat Missouri-Kansas City (1-4), in a pitchers duel, 2-1.
Against Maine, Ashly Jacobs threw five innings and allowed three runs on five hits, struck out three and issued three walks. She gave way to Hillary Phillips (2-0) who would earn the win when Tech came back from a 3-2 deficit in the bottom or the sixth to reclaim the lead.
Maine scored in the top of the first, but Tech evened the score with a run in the third. A leadoff walk to Ashley Hamada turned into a run two outs later on a double by Logan Hall. Then, when Raven Richardson tripled and scored on the throw back to the infield to lead off the fourth, Tech led, 2-1. The Black Bears put up two in the sixth to chase Jacobs. The Red Raiders followed in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back doubles by Stephanie Drewry and Emily Bledsoe who scored later in the inning on an errant throw and made the final, 4-3.
The final game of the day was settled in an uncanny 1:15 minute pitchers duel, Deanna Friese and Karli Merlich, as both pitchers gave up runs early, but settled down to dominate the final six innings of play.
UMKC scored in the first when the leadoff batter reached on an error by Richardson, moved to second on an infield single and came around to score on a throwing error by Bledsoe.
Tech answered in the bottom of the inning, courtesy of a walk and a two-run blast from freshman Mikey Kenney. That was all Merlich would need as the sophomore left hander struck out three, walked no one and only issued another hit in the complete-game win. She moves to 1-1 on the season.
Tech is hosting Maine and UMKC as part of a three-team tournament. In the first game of the day, Maine beat UMKC in a 12-7 affair as both teams shook off some dust, no doubt induced by the travel and earlier-than-usual start time (11 a.m.). The three teams are back in action tomorrow, with game times scheduled at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The event concludes Sunday with games at 8:30 a.m. and Noon.
