Softball Comes Up Short on Day One of Judi Garman Classic

Thursday, February 27

Fullerton, CA

2:00 PM

Texas Tech Athletics

10-6

LSU

14-2

Texas Tech

LSU

Softball Comes Up Short on Day One of Judi Garman Classic

February 28, 2020 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Red Raiders dropped a pair of games on their first day in California.

By: Texas Tech Athletics Communications

FULLERTON, Calif. – The Red Raider pitching staff posted solid efforts in the circle, but it was not enough as the Texas Tech softball team dropped a pair of one-run games to No. 4 LSU and the hosting Cal-State Fullerton Titans on the opening day of the Judi Garman Classic at Anderson Family Field.

The Red Raiders fought for a comeback against the fourth-ranked Tigers, but lost 6-5 with one out to go before extra innings. After a 30-minute break, Tech couldn't flip the momentum and dropped a narrow, 1-0 contest to Cal-State Fullerton.

Breanna Russell led the Red Raider lineup with three hits while Karli Hamilton brought in a team-high two RBI. Yvonne Whaley followed Russell with a pair of hits and Peyton Blythe, Erin Edmoundson, Zoe Jones, Heaven Burton and Hamilton were the other Red Raiders to record base knocks.

Looking past four errors against the Tigers, GiGi Wall (1-2) put together a strong performance against LSU that resulted in just two earned runs. Edmoundson (6-2) got the start in game two and limited the Titans to just three hits.

GAME ONE: LSU 6, TEXAS TECH 5
The Red Raiders came out of the gates with a heavy chip on their shoulder and Whaley got the offense rolling with a one-out walk. After she stole second, a single to right from Russell placed runners on the corners. Proving her versatility, Jones, who was slotted as Tech's cleanup hitter, laid down a sacrifice squeeze and Whaley took off for home. As LSU's third baseman approached the ball, she could not handle it and all runners were called safe – putting Tech ahead, 1-0.

However, the Red Raiders' lead would be short-lived as two hits and an error made way to three Tiger runs in the bottom of the inning.

Neither team was able to produce in the second, but Tech began to chip away at LSU's lead in the top of the third. Back-to-back singles from Burton and Whaley put runners on the corners and Jones plated Tech's second run of the game on a sacrifice fly that nearly left Anderson Family Field.

Trailing 3-2, Wall kept Tech in the hunt with a 1-2-3 frame in the bottom of the third and held off the Tigers once again with a scoreless fourth-inning performance.

Blythe, Burton and Whaley strung together a pair of singles and an error to load the bases with no outs, but Tech was unable to capitalize on the momentum and missed a crucial opportunity to even the score in the top of the fifth.

A run from two singles and an error extended LSU's lead, 4-2, in the bottom of the inning but a heads-up play by Myamie Thompson at short prevented another Tiger from scoring. With runners on second and third, LSU sent in pinch hitter Jordyn Perkins, who singled into right field and plated another run. However, after noticing an illegal substitution, the home-plate umpire ruled Perkins out at the dish and the run was nullified.

LSU's third error of the game allowed Kelcy Leach to reach base in the top of the sixth, but the Red Raiders were once again unable to scratch across a run. The Tigers used one hit, a sacrifice bunt and a fielder's choice to make it a 5-2 ball game in the bottom of the inning, but the Red Raiders were determined to claw their way back into the game.

A leadoff walk to Peyton Blythe got Tech rolling in their last chance to create on offense. After a fly out to center field, Whaley lined out to the Tigers' third baseman and she tried to double off Blythe to end the game. However, her throw went sailing past the LSU first baseman and Blythe was able to advance to second on the mistake.

Russell used the momentum and scorched a hard shot to the right side of the field where neither the Tigers' first nor second baseman could handle the hit. Reading the play, Blythe rounded third and slid home safely to cut Tech's deficit down to two runs.

Jones, who sparked the Red Raiders' first two runs of the game, came through once again and blasted a two-out double off the left-center field wall to give Tech a pair of runners in key scoring position. After struggling in her first three trips to the plate, Hamilton stepped up and smacked a game-tying, two-RBI single up the middle that allowed pinch runners Miranda Padilla and Alanna Barraza to score and neutralize the game, 5-5.

Despite the sudden swing of momentum, LSU used Tech's third error of the game to get an early base runner. A one-out single and walk loaded the bases for the Tigers and, after snatching a line drive at short, the Red Raiders' comeback efforts were cut off as a throwing error allowed the Tiger at third to score, ending the game 6-5 in favor of the fourth-ranked Tigers.

Wall, who limited the LSU to eight hits through 6.2 innings, was issued the loss and dropped to 1-2 on the year.

GAME TWO: CAL-STATE FULLERTON 1, TEXAS TECH 0
After a heartbreaking loss in Tech's first game of the day, a slow start hurt the Red Raiders against the Titans. Tech's first trip to the plate fell silent and a leadoff triple, followed by an RBI single in the bottom of the inning put the Red Raiders in an early, 1-0 hole.

Both teams went three up, three down for the next two innings until Whaley drew a one-out walk in the top of the fourth. She stole second in the next at-bat, but the Red Raiders were unable to bring her in.

After holding off the Titans in the bottom of the inning, Edmoundson blasted a leadoff double down the left-field line to start the fifth. However, Tech was unable to capitalize and three straight outs sent the Red Raiders back onto the field.

Neither team threatened in the sixth inning and the Red Raiders had just one more opportunity to neutralize the game. Russell began Tech's final effort with a single to first base and pinch runner Payton Jackson was able to motor to third on a steal and a fly ball to right field. Edmoundson added more pressure to the Titan defense when she walked and stole second – forcing Cal-State Fullerton to make a change in the circle. However, a strikeout followed in the next at-bat and a hard liner to right field marked the final out in Tech's 1-0 loss to the Titans.

With the loss, Edmoundson dropped to 6-2 on the season and the Red Raiders fell to 10-7.

COMING UP NEXT
The Red Raiders will return to the field tomorrow morning for an 11:30 a.m. (CT) contest against BYU. Live stats, as well as a live stream on FloSoftball ($) will be available for the game. For all the latest information on the Texas Tech softball team, visit TexasTech.com or follow @TexasTechSB on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.