Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Utah State
Red Raiders Close Perfect Weekend With Rout of Utah State
February 19, 2012 | Softball
Feb. 19, 2012
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Sandy James drove in four runs and Adriana Perez provided three RBI of her own to help Texas Tech close a perfect weekend at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic with an 11-2 rout of Utah State Saturday at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park.
After narrowly defeating DePaul earlier in the day, the Red Raiders (7-4) left little doubt in their sixth-straight victory, setting a new season high for runs in the process. Tech also ended its first game of the year via run rule.
"We pitched well in both games today and got just enough offense to beat two really good teams," Tech head coach Shanon Hays said. "I was proud of how our offense got going against Utah State. We left too many runners on base the game before (against DePaul) which is something we can't do against good teams. I was glad to see us capitalize with runners in scoring position this time around. This was a good weekend for us and hopefully we can keep it going."
James got Tech started early in the first, nailing a liner just through the right side to score leadoff hitter Mikey Kenney for the Red Raiders' first run. Perez followed with a deep single off the center field fence, scoring pinch runner Emily Cooper to give starting pitcher Cara Custer some room before she even took the circle.
After the Aggies pulled within one in the first, Mikey Kenney made it a two-run game once again an inning later, smashing a two-out shot over the fence in left for her second home run of the season.
James added to the lead with a leadoff home run an inning later, her team-high fourth this season. It was also the second-straight day James had homored.
Utah State (5-3) got to Custer again in the third as Kali Cancelosi drilled a liner just out of reach of third baseman Emily Bledsoe. The hit scored Kelley Kaneshiro, who had a RBI groundout in the first as well.
Following a scoreless fourth, the Red Raiders broke the game open with a seven-run fifth which marked Tech's highest scoring output in a single inning this season.
James once again got the frame rolling with a leadoff single. Perez quickly followed with her third home run of the weekend and second of the day. She also homored in Tech's final game Saturday evening against Portland State.
Taylor Powell and Holley Gentsch added RBI groundouts later in the frame to score two more runs before James returned to the plate to line a double to right field, scoring both Kenney and Bledsoe on the play. Kenney had previously reached on a Serda Taylor error that allowed Powell to reach home.
Custer (5-3) claimed her fourth win of the weekend as she went the distance for the third-consecutive game. The freshman gave up seven hits and two runs while also walking two and striking out one hitter.
Dani Chaplin (1-1) took the loss for the Aggies after she was chased following Tech's two-run first inning. Mandy Harmon came on in relief to give up nine runs, six of which were earned, over the next 3.2 innings before Sheilbi Tyteca finished off the fifth.
The Red Raiders will head to the Texas Shootout next weekend in Waco to face North Texas, UTEP, Texas State, and Stephen F. Austin in pool play. The event, which begins Friday, turns to tournament play next Sunday.
