Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
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UTEP
Texas Tech Scores Early to Drop UTEP
February 25, 2012 | Softball
Feb. 25, 2012
WACO, Texas - Following two slow starts on the first day of the Texas Shootout Friday, Texas Tech rebounded with five runs over the first three innings en route to a 5-2 victory over UTEP Saturday morning at Getterman Stadium.
The win marked Tech's ninth-straight and put the Red Raiders (10-4) in good position to advance to Sunday's tournament championship game after a 3-0 start to the weekend. Tech will play Stephen F. Austin later Saturday afternoon to round out pool play.
In the tournament's first two games a day earlier, the Red Raiders had struggled offensively from the start, not scoring until the fifth against Texas State in the opener before dropping a 10-spot in the eighth inning against North Texas to break a scoreless game.
Tech was able to get to UTEP starter Cynthia Villastrigo early in the first, though, without even making a hit.
With runners on the corners and one out, Emily Bledsoe took off from first on an 0-1 pitch to Adriana Perez, allowing Mikey Kenney to score from third. The throw sailed into center field as well to send Bledsoe to third on the error.
Bledsoe came across a few moments later as pinch runner Emily Cooper took a delayed steal attempt towards second, giving Bledsoe time to reach home before the tag was made on the run-down.
The Tech bats got rolling an inning later as Kenney drove a two-out double to the gap in left center, scoring Taylor Powell and Ashley Hamada on the play to give Tech starter Cara Custer plenty of breathing room.
Melisa Ryba scored Tech's final run as she advanced home after catcher Kayleigh Walts threw high on her return to the circle following a wild pitch to the backstop.
Custer (7-3) picked up the win as she went the distance for the fifth-straight outing, picking up her sixth-straight win in the process. She matched her season-high with seven strikeouts while also walking one and hitting one.
Her only blemish was a two-run fifth inning where the Miners loaded the bases for Courtney Ware to deliver a two-run single to left. Tech had previously thrown 22-straight scoreless innings to that point.
Villastrigo (3-3) took the loss for the Miners as she gave up four runs, three of which were earned, over the first 1.2 innings. Joanna Krienitz gave up the final run over the final 4.1 innings in relief.
Tech and Stephen F. Austin are scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start at the Southwest Regional Complex.
