Softball Starts 2-0 at Puerto Vallarta Classic

Thursday, February 16

Puerto Vallarta, MX

4:00 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

4-2

Cal-State Fullerton

1-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Texas Tech	0	2	0	1	0	0	2	5	4	1
Cal State Fullerton	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	5	3

Softball Starts 2-0 at Puerto Vallarta Classic

February 17, 2017 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 PV Classic Hub

Inside-the-park home run and grand slam highlight Day One in Mexico.

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – Texas Tech kicked off the 2017 Puerto Vallarta Classic with a bang Thursday, scoring a 5-1 win over Cal-State Fullerton and a 10-8 victory over previously-unbeaten Florida Gulf Coast.

The wins propel Texas Tech to a 5-2 start on the season, its best start since 2011 when the Red Raiders opened the season 24-0. Tech continues play Friday at 7 p.m. CT when it takes on Mississippi State (4-2), who defeated Fresno State 4-1 Thursday.

Freshman pitcher Kassidy Scott continued to be impressive in the circle, going 5.0 innings strong and giving up just one run on four hits. The Piedmont, Oklahoma, native improved to 2-1 on the season with the win.

"Kassidy demands respect," head coach Adrian Gregory said. "When she works ahead of hitters, she is really good. She throws the ball hard, but she just commanded the strike zone. Everything starts in the circle, so it's great to have dominance in the circle."

Tech gained a 2-0 lead in the second inning when senior Devon Thomey connected on a drive to right field that would ricochet off the wall and allow her to dart around the bases for a two-RBI inside-the-park home run.

The lead remained 2-0 until the top of the fourth when Tech's aggressiveness on the base paths brought home another run. After a single by senior Kierra Miles, the Mustang, Okla., native was bunted to second. Next up was senior Ashley Fultz, who showed bunt to bring in the third baseman, and Miles outran the shortstop to third. The throw to third sailed high and Miles scurried home to give Tech a 3-0 advantage.

The Titans cut into the lead in the sixth with a run, but senior Mattison Maisel, who came on in relief, was lights out from there, allowing just one hit in 2.0 innings of work.

The Red Raiders added a pair of security runs in the top of the seventh off a sacrifice squeeze from Fultz that scored speedster Camaury Washington. Sophomore Jessica Hartwell later belted a sacrifice fly to left field that scored senior Devon Thomey from third, extending the lead to what would be the final score of 5-1.

In the nightcap, FGCU opened up the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. The Eagle lead wouldn't last long, however, as Hartwell belted a grand slam far beyond the left field fence in the top of the second that moved Tech in front 5-2.

Tech's lead grew to 7-2 in the top of the third thanks to a two-out single to right field by sophomore Kiana Workman. The Eagles, however, battled back to trim the lead to 7-6 entering the fourth.

The Red Raider bats stayed hot in the fourth as freshman Raina O'Neal got in on the action, hitting a single to center field which scored Hartwell from second. The lead swelled to 10-6 after back-to-back sacrifice squeezes by Thomey and senior Brittany Warnecke.

Scott pitched 3.1 innings of hitless ball in relief, earning her third win of the season to move to 3-1 overall.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
Jessica Hartwell on her grand slam
"I saw a screwball come inside, and I was ready for it. With two outs, it was great to finally get a big hit and come through for the team."

NOTES
vs. Cal-State Fullerton

Senior Devon Thomey got her second start of the season at first base.
Thomey recorded her first home run of the season, an inside the park home run.
The home run was Thomey's first since April 25, 2015 against Texas.
Sophomore Kiana Workman earned her second start of the season at catcher.
Freshman RHP Kassidy Scott made her third start start in the circle and got her second win.
The win is Tech's third against Cal-State Fullerton all-time and second straight.
Texas Tech is undefeated in the country of Mexico.

vs. Florida Gulf Coast

Sophomore Jessica Hartwell's grand slam in the second inning was the first of her career.
With Hartwell's grand slam, six of Tech's seven home runs in 2017 have been hit by underclassmen.
Freshman Kassidy Scott earned the win in 3.1 innings of relief.
The win is Texas Tech's fifth in its last six games.
The Red Raiders now lead the all-time series with FGCU, 1-0.
Texas Tech remains undefeated in Mexico.