Texas Tech University Athletics
Softball Drops 1-0 decision
May 17, 2001 | Softball
May 17, 2001
TUCSON, Ariz. - The Texas Tech softball team dropped a 1-0 decision Thursday afternoon in the first round of the Region I NCAA Softball Tournament to 10th-ranked Cal St.-Fullerton, as the Titans scored the game's lone run in the bottom of the seventh.
Both teams had several chances to score in the contest, but both starting pitchers, Amanda Renfro for Tech (35-23) and Christy Robitaille for Fullerton (47-12), were able to work out of jams unscathed.
Tech got an opportunity to get on top in the first when Sandy Butler walked to start the game. Butler went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Rebecca Eimen, and the Red Raiders had two on when a grounder to short by Shauna Briggs was booted. But Carmen Grindell grounded out in front of the plate, and Andrea Joachims struck out to end the threat.
The designated home team and second-seeded Titans also had a chance to score in their half of the first after Julie Watson's ground ball to start the inning was booted on the right side of the Tech infield. A short pop to left off the bat of CSUF's Jenny Topping hit Eimen's glove and popped out, putting two on with no one out.
Renfro then got a popout on a bunt attempt and a groundout before Gina Oaks lined out to end the inning for Fullerton.
Tech got singles in the second and third from Britney Stolle and Briggs, respectively, but could not advance either runner past first base. Fullerton had a single in the second and a walk and a single in the third, but Oaks struck out swinging to end the threat in the third.
The Titans had their best scoring opportunity in the fourth when Jodie Cox singled to start the frame and went to second on a passed ball. Cox advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Amanda Hockett, but Renfro enduced a popout from Robitaille and struck out Brittany Ziegler to end the inning.
Eimen was hit by a pitch to start the sixth for the Red Raiders, but a pair of ground balls and a strikeout ended any chance of scoring. Jana Baker led off the seventh with an infield hit for Tech, but three straight ground balls ended that inning as well.
Topping got the game's only extra-base hit, a double past Joachims at third down the left field line with one out in the seventh. Monica Lucatero then bounced a ball over Renfro's head and into centerfield. Topping scored from safely, as Butler's throw to the plate was just late, giving the Titans a 1-0 victory.
Renfro (32-18) struck out seven and allowed eight hits in taking the loss, while Robitaille (10-1) gave up three hits and struck out six in tossing the complete-game shutout.
The Red Raiders play again Thursday at 7:30 p.m. PT, 9:30 CT, against the loser of St. Peter's and Arizona. Tech must win to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament.