Tech Advances to Face UTA For NISC Regional Title

Thursday, May 17

Conway, AR

3 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

30-27

UT Arlington

29-26

UT Arlington

Texas Tech

Tech Advances to Face UTA For NISC Regional Title

May 17, 2018 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 PDF Box Score (vs. UTA)PDF Box Score (vs. UCA)Tournament Central

Red Raiders will need to beat the Mavericks twice to win the Conway Regional.

By: Ty Parker, Texas Tech Athletics Communications

CONWAY, Ark. – Texas Tech softball suffered a disappointing 9-4 loss to UT Arlington on Thursday before rebounding with a suffocating 9-0 victory in five innings over Central Arkansas to move on to the NISC regional finals in Conway, Ark.

The Red Raiders (31-27) and Mavericks (29-26) were even at 2-2 before a seven-run fourth inning propelled UTA to the win. Tech responded against Central Arkansas (29-27) with seven runs in the first two innings on its way to the run-rule victory.

Texas Tech now needs two wins against UTA on Friday to claim the regional title and move on to next week's championship round. Game one is set for noon, and an "if necessary" finale would be played at 3 p.m.

Maverick Randi Phillips (17-11) tossed a complete game against the Red Raiders, giving up three earned runs on nine hits with a strikeout. Freshman Erin Edmoundson (17-12) received the loss for Tech as she was replaced in the fourth by senior Cheyene Powell after giving up five runs on six hits in the outing. Sophomore Kassidy Scott finished the game with one unearned run on three hits in four innings of work.

UTA did their damage in the fourth inning, driving in seven runs on five hits with two walks and one Red Raider error. With two runs already across in the frame, Melanie Mendoza hit a bases-clearing double with one out that made it 7-2, and the Mavericks were able to tack on two more.

Freshman Breanna Russell homered for the Red Raiders, a solo shot in the second inning that tied the game at 2-2. Redshirt freshman Heaven Burton had a 3-for-4 game while junior Jessica Hartwell went 2-for-3 with a double. Edmoundson drove in a pair of runs in the sixth with a liner to right.

Facing elimination in the nightcap, Tech came out hot as redshirt sophomore Karli Hamilton and Edmoundson both knocked in runs to give Tech a 2-0 lead in the first.

The Red Raiders hit a cycle as a team in the second inning. Freshman Kelcy Leach led off with a double and scored on a single from freshman Myamie Thompson. Hartwell later connected on a two-RBI triple to right field, and then Hamilton blasted a two-run homer to right that capped off the five-run inning and extended the Tech lead to 7-0. Tech tacked on two more in the fourth on two hits and two Bear errors.

Hamilton extended her hitting streak to 19 games with 1-for-3 showings in both contests. The hitting streak marks a season-best for all Red Raiders.

Nine Red Raiders compiled hits as Tech outhit the Bears 11-2. Edmoundson earned her third shutout of the season in the circle and 11^th complete-game win for the year.

UP NEXT
The Red Raiders face UT Arlington at noon on Friday, looking to force a second and final game at the NISC Conway Regional. If Tech wins at noon, a winner-take-all finale would be played at 3 p.m. for a spot in next week's championship round.

Keep up with all things Texas Tech softball by following the Red Raiders at @TexasTechSB on Twitter and Instagram and online at www.TexasTech.com.

The bats came alive in our 9-0 run-rule victory over UCA. Take a look at the highlights as we advance to face UT Arlington for the #NISC regional final on Friday. #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/TaL9pQBPJ6
— Texas Tech Softball (@TexasTechSB) May 18, 2018