Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
Utah Valley
Texas Tech Uses Quick Start to Top Utah Valley
March 07, 2015 | Softball
March 7, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas - Devon Thomey drove in three runs Saturday night while Kristi Belshe and Brooke Scott added two RBI as well as Texas Tech topped Utah Valley, 8-5, at Rocky Johnson Field.
The victory was the second of the day for the Red Raiders (11-12) after Tech rallied from a pair of deficits earlier against UT Martin. This was the first doubleheader sweep for Tech since Feb. 21 when the Red Raiders defeated both UMKC and Prairie View A&M.
Tech built an early six-run lead over Utah Valley (8-13) partly behind the bat of Thomey, who finished 3-for-4 with three RBI. It was the second multiple-hit game of the day for Thomey and her fifth of the season as she also notched a career-high four hits earlier against UT Martin.
Thomey scored the first of two runs in the second with a RBI single to center field. She found the grass in center field again for another RBI single an inning later and then capped the day by driving in Tech's final run on a RBI double in the sixth.
Belshe followed Thomey's singles in the first and second innings with RBI base hits of her own. Belshe scored Thomey with a single up the middle in the opening frame and then belted a RBI double through the left side an inning later.
The Red Raiders added further to their lead in the third off a two-out, two-run homer from Scott, her first of the season and second of her career. Scott joined Thomey and Belshe with two hits, finishing 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored.
The early lead was enough for Tech reliever Cara Custer (6-7) to pick up her second win of the day. Custer relieved Mattison Maisel with two outs in the fourth and shut the Wolverines down over the final 3.1 innings, allowing just a hit and a walk while striking out four during that span.
Utah Valley cut into Tech's lead in the fourth with a two-out rally that started on a two-run homer from Erin Romero, her second of the season. The Wolverines added two more runs later in the inning off a RBI double from Brianna Gatlin and a RBI single from Brittney Vansway, one of her two RBI in the game.
The big inning ended Tech starter Chandler Moore's night after she surrendered four runs off four hits and five walks over her 3.2 innings. Maisel could not record an out in the fourth, prompting Custer to enter out of the bullpen.
Custer previously tossed 6.2 innings earlier in the day against UT Martin. She has combined to throw 18.2 of Tech's 27 innings so far this weekend.
Makayla Shadle (2-3) took the loss for Utah Valley as the right-hander allowed seven runs, six of which that were earned, off eight hits, three walks and a strikeout. She was relieved in the third by Bailey Moore, who surrendered just one run over the final 3.1 innings.
The Red Raiders close the Texas Tech Invitational Sunday afternoon with a 12:30 p.m. scheduled first pitch against UT Arlington.
