Red Raiders Top Wildcats in Midweek Battle

Tuesday, March 7

Abilene, TX

6:00 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

12-9

Abilene Christian University

10-12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Texas Tech	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	4	0
Abilene Christian	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	5	3

Red Raiders Top Wildcats in Midweek Battle

March 07, 2017 | Softball

Box Score

Tech picks up road win at Abilene Christian 2-1 behind solid pitching, defense.

ABILENE, Texas – Texas Tech softball earned its first road win of the season Tuesday night, defeating Abilene Christian, 2-1, for its second victory over the Wildcats this season.

Three Red Raider arms combined to give up just five hits and strike out four, and Tech's defense played error-free ball for the sixth time this season to aid Tech to the win.

"We had struggled with our pitching and our defense earlier this season, but they came to play today," head coach Adrian Gregory said. "I thought ACU threw really well. We had good at bats, and our balls just didn't fall. They made a few defensive plays that were really great. I thought we had quality at bats, but they made some plays. That's the fun part of our game. It stays close, and we are able to close it out."

Texas Tech took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Jessica Hartwell sent a solo shot to left that would sail just over the top of the foul pole. The home run was her fourth of the season and the first of two hits on the night for the Galt, Calif., native, who now has eight multi-hit games on the season.

Senior Mattison Maisel tossed four scoreless innings, giving up just three hits and striking out two. Only three balls left the infield through the first four innings, and the defense stayed steady at her back.

Maisel allowed two base runners in the bottom of the fifth, when junior Cheyene Powell received the call to come on in relief. Powell would retire three of four batters and help Tech get out of the inning unscathed.

The Red Raiders manufactured a run in the fifth to make it 2-0. Senior Devon Thomey reached via catcher's interference before senior Camaury Washington came on to run in her place. Sophomore Kiani Ramsey and Hartwell both put the ball on the ground, moving Washington to third with one out for freshman Raina O'Neal, who sent a grounder past the third baseman for an RBI single.

ACU threatened again in the bottom of the sixth after a double put runners on second and third with no outs. Freshman Kassidy Scott entered the game and limited the Wildcats to just one run, inducing a pair of groundouts sandwiched around a strikeout.

Scott recorded another strikeout in the seventh on her way to closing the game for her second save of the season.

With the win, Tech improves to 12-9 this season and 2-0 against Abilene Christian after shutting them out, 3-0, at the CenturyLink Classic at Texas State in the first week of the season.

POST-GAME QUOTES
Senior RHP Mattison Maisel on the defensive effort.
"I'm feeling great on the mound right now. What's even better is that our defense is here and playing well. I couldn't ask for a better defense to play in front of and with. I wouldn't be who I am without them."

POST-GAME NOTES

The win moves Texas Tech to 1-3 on the road this season.
Sophomore Jessica Hartwell's home run in the first inning was her fourth of the season, which ranks second on the team.
Hartwell's hit in the fourth inning made it her eighth multi-hit game of the season.
Sophomore Kenzie Davis earned her second start of the season at second base.
Junior RHP Cheyene Powell made her second appearance of the season, coming on in relief in the bottom of the fifth.
Freshman Raina O'Neal's RBI single in the top of the sixth gives her 16 on the season, which ranks second on the team.
Freshman Kassidy Scott came on in relief to make her team-leading 15^th appearance of the season.
Texas Tech improved to 10-1 in games that it scores first.