Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
UT Arlington
Big Fifth Inning Helps Texas Tech Rally Past UT Arlington
February 20, 2015 | Softball
Cara Custer picked up her second win on Friday alone in Texas Tech's 10-6 victory over UT Arlington. Custer combined for 11.1 total innings Friday in Tech's tow victories over DePaul and UTA. (Photo courtesy of Ellman Photography)
Feb. 20, 2015
The Red Raiders (7-6) set season highs for runs (10) and hits (14) in their second victory of the day as Tech previously pulled off a 9-1 run-rule victory over DePaul. Tech is now 6-0 this season on the first day of tournament play.
UT Arlington (9-3) plated five runs over the first two innings before Tech responded with a Susan Welborn leadoff home run in the third and then its seven runs two innings later. Tech had not previously scored seven or more runs in an inning since plating eight against Iowa State on March 26 last year.
The five-run deficit, meanwhile, was the largest for the Red Raiders in a victory since Tech defeated No. 19 Texas A&M, 8-6, on April 18, 2012. Tech trailed by a similar 5-0 deficit in that game as well.
Tech loaded the bases with three singles to start the fifth, setting up Jordan Bettiol and Lea Hopson for RBI singles to cut the UTA lead to just two runs with just one out in the inning. Hopson's single could have created more damage at the time as she drove a shot to the wall in centerfield that was hung up by a hard-blowing wind from the south.
Bettiol finished with a career-high four hits to lead the Red Raiders atop the lineup as she went 4-for-5 for her second multiple-game of the day and her team-leading sixth of the season. She combined to go 6-for-8 over two games Friday with three RBI.
Kierra Miles tied the game soon after with a two-run single to right field that was followed by another two-run shot, this time via an Ashley Fultz double. Tech added its final run of the frame off a UTA fielding error.
The Red Raiders plated a pair of insurance runs over the final two frames via a UTA wild pitch in the sixth and then a leadoff home run from Brittany Lee to start the seventh. The home run was the first of the season for Lee and the sixth of her career.
Lee was one of four Red Raiders with at least two hits as she finished 2-for-3 off the bench. Welborn also ended the night 2-for-4 while Hopson was 2-for-5 overall.
Tech's comeback allowed Cara Custer (4-4) to pick up her second victory of the day as the right-hander tossed 6.1 innings in relief of Chandler Moore. Custer, who tossed five full innings earlier against DePaul, gave up three runs off six hits while striking five, three of which that came in a key bottom of the fifth.
Sam Montes (2-2) took the loss for the Mavericks after surrendering seven runs off eight hits and three strikeouts in her 4.2 innings. She was relieved by Kayla Donaldson, who handed Tech three runs in her 1.1 innings before Brittany May recorded the final three outs.
UTA plated three runs in the first, matching the most for a Tech opponent this year. Rebecca Stokes scored two of those runs with a two-out, two-run single up the middle right after Custer entered the game.
Meagan Michele knocked in UTA's other two RBI with a run-scoring single in the second and then a solo home run to lead off the seventh inning, her fourth already this season.
The Red Raiders will continue the UT Arlington Invitational with another doubleheader Saturday against UMKC and Prairie View A&M. First pitch between Tech and UMKC is slated for 12 p.m. at Allan Saxe Field.
