Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
DePaul
Red Raiders Run-Rule DePaul to Open Weekend
February 20, 2015 | Softball
Brooke Scott pushed across the first two runs for Texas Tech in a six-run fifth inning Friday evening. The big inning allowed the Red Raiders to score a 9-1 run-rule victory over DePaul.
Feb. 20, 2015
It was the first run-rule victory of the season for the Red Raiders (6-6), who are now 3-0 in tournament openers this season. Tech had not previously run-ruled DePaul (4-8) in four previous meetings between the two schools.
The Red Raiders scored all six of their runs in the fifth inning before DePaul could even record an out. DePaul loaded the bases early in the frame for Tech thanks to a leadoff error and a pair of walks.
Brooke Scott made the Blue Demons pay for the free passes with a two-run single to right field that started the big inning. Susan Welborn followed with a RBI single to left field before Devon Thomey cleared the bases with a two-run triple, her second already this season.
Thomey finished 2-for-3 overall with a game-high three RBI as she drove a RBI single up the middle in the fourth, one of two runs for the Red Raiders in the inning. The performance marked her third multiple-RBI game this year which is tied for the team high.
Jordan Bettiol followed each of Thomey's hits over the final two innings with a RBI single of her own. Bettiol, Tech's leading hitter through 12 games, continued her hot start with her fifth multiple-hit game after going 2-for-3 overall with two RBI.
Tech's performance at the plate gave Cara Custer more than enough room to work with in the circle as the right-hander tossed her second complete game of the year and the 29th of her career.
Custer (3-4) allowed just three hits over her five innings where she also struck out three. DePaul's three hits and one run marked the fewest for a Tech opponent this season as the Red Raider pitching staff has not allowed more than three runs over the past four games.
Mary Connolly (0-5) took the loss for DePaul after surrendering eight runs off eight hits and five walks. She was relieved in the fifth inning by Maxine Rodriguez who did not fare much better as she allowed the final run to score off a pair of hits.
The Red Raiders combined for 10 hits off the DePaul pitching staff as seven of Tech's nine starters recorded at least one hit. Brittany Warnecke joined Thomey and Bettiol with a multiple-hit game after she posted 2-for-3 performance.
The Red Raiders close the first day of the UT Arlington Invitational later this evening against the host Mavericks. That game is currently in progress at Allan Saxe Field.
