Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon Outlasts Texas Tech, 7-4
February 14, 2015 | Softball
Brittany Lee drove in a run via a sacrifice fly during Texas Tech's three-run sixth inning. The Red Raiders fell to Grand Canyon, 7-4, to drop to 4-4 on the season.
Feb. 14, 2015
The loss was the first of the weekend for the Red Raiders (4-4), who won both games in their CenturyLink Classic debut on Friday against UTSA and Texas State. Tech and Grand Canyon (6-3) are now tied for the tournament lead with identical 2-1 records.
The Antelopes used a strong pitching performance from Taylor Nowlin to build a three-run lead early as the left-hander did not surrender a hit until the start of the sixth inning. Brooke Scott was the only Red Raider to reach base during that span as she was plunked with a pitch to start the third inning.
Nowlin's performance gave Grand Canyon time to build its lead as the Antelopes scored two runs in the top of the third and then another in the fourth. Nicole Newbury plated Grand Canyon's first run in the third with a RBI single, one of her four hits overall.
The Antelopes put the game pretty much out of reach in the sixth inning with four runs, only two of which that came from a RBI as Grand Canyon scored twice off Tech wild pitches. Grand Canyon scored three of its seven runs total via Tech wild pitches.
Susan Welborn connected on the first hit for the Red Raiders with a leadoff double down the left field line to start the sixth inning. Welborn scored later in the frame off a bases-loaded walk to Lea Hopson.
Tech added two more runs in the sixth to cut into Grand Canyon's lead as Brittany Warnecke unloaded a RBI single through the left side while Brittany Lee sent a sacrifice fly to the wall in left field to score another.
Jordan Bettiol plated Tech's final run in the seventh with a two-out RBI single to center field. Bettiol's single in her final plate appearance extended her season-opening hitting streak to a team-leading eight games.
The Red Raiders had a chance to potentially cut further into Grand Canyon's over the final two innings but Tech combined to leave four runners on base during that span. Grand Canyon stranded 11 runners of its own after totaling 10 hits.
Cara Custer (2-2) took the loss for the Red Raiders in the circle after allowing two runs, one of which that was earned, off four hits and four strikeouts in her 4.1 innings. She was relieved by Mattison Maisel to start the fourth inning and then later returned to replace Chandler Moore with two outs in the sixth inning.
Nowlin (2-2) earned the win for the Antelopes in a near complete-game performance where she tossed 6.1 innings with only three hits and six strikeouts. She was charged with all four runs before being relieved by Bailey Bergman.
The Red Raiders will look to rebound later this afternoon in a 3 p.m. first pitch against tournament host Texas State.
