Texas Tech Athletics
Texas-San Antonio
Red Raiders End Losing Skid with Win over UTSA
April 26, 2006 | Softball
April 26, 2006
LUBBOCK, Texas - Sophomore Jennifer Bowers connected on her team-leading eighth home run of the season to help snap an eight-game losing streak by the Texas Tech softball team as the Red Raiders downed UTSA by a score of 4-1 in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Rocky Johnson Field. The Roadrunners took the opener, rallying in the seventh inning to post a 4-3 win.
The split in the final home series of the year leaves Texas Tech's record this season at 19-32, while UTSA leaves Lubbock with a 30-12 mark on the year.
After first five innings of the opener went by scoreless, the Roadrunners broke the ice in the top of the sixth inning when leadoff batter Mel Torres started the inning with a double to left centerfield and scored in the next at bat on a double by catcher Jessica Els.
Texas Tech came to bat in the home half of the inning and was able to use some clutch two-out hitting to take a 3-1 advantage. With two outs in the inning, sophomore Whitney Riley drew a walk from UTSA pitcher Amanda Nikolenko and was followed by first baseman Brandy Moulin who singled to put runners on second and third. After another walk was issued to catcher Jennifer Corkin loaded the bases, the table was set for designated player Montana Patin. The redshirt freshman doubled to deep centerfield driving in all three baserunners, putting Tech up 3-1.
The lead would be short-lived, however, as a two-out three-run home run by UTSA catcher Jessica Els in the top of the seventh inning sealed the win for the Roadrunners.
Game two saw the Red Raiders jump out to an early lead in the first inning. Leadoff batter Ashley Parker singled to begin the game and after advancing to second on her Big 12-leading 34th stolen base of the season was able to score on a RBI single by sophomore right fielder Whitney Riley.
Bowers gave Tech a 3-0 lead in the home half of the fourth as followed a walk issued to Corkin with a long ball that cleared the wall in centerfield. The blast was the ninth career home run of Bowers' career and increases her team-leading RBI total to 27 on the year.
Corkin tacked on another run in the next inning with a RBI single, sending sophomore Sarah Losleben, who pitched well in the contest, to the top of the sixth with a 4-0 lead. In the inning, UTSA shortstop Aimee Murry hit a long home run to put the Roadrunners on the board, but Losleben recovered to keep UTSA off the scoreboard the rest of the way and notch her second win of the season.
Texas Tech softball will wrap up the regular season over the weekend when it travels to Columbia, Mo., to take on the Missouri Tigers over the weekend.
