Tech Softball Wins Two Fall-Ball Scrimmages
October 03, 2009 | Softball
Oct. 3, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - Karli Merlich and Ashley Brokeshoulder each picked up wins today as Texas Tech's softball squad competed in a pair of scrimmage games this morning at Rocky Johnson Field. (Games don't count toward regular season as the fall sessions are preparatory in nature, so no stats are officially kept nor will they be posted on our Web site.)
However, facing Temple CC this morning, sophomore left-hander Merlich pitched the first four innings allowing only a run, unearned, while giving up three hits, fanning three and walking two. Hillary Phillips came on in relief to pitch three innings, allowing a run on two hits. The sophomore right-hander struck out five as the unofficial score was 5-2. (Both games went a pre-arranged seven innings and despite Tech holding a 3-2 advantage after 6 and a half innings, the squad added two runs in the unnecessary bottom half of the seventh because the whole thing was, after all, a practice scrimmage.)
Sophomore outfielder Stephanie Drewry, sophomore second baseman Logan Hall and Merlich each had a pair of hits to lead the offense. Hall and sophomore first baseman Skyler Peterson each doubled in the first game to highlight the Red Raider's power game. Tech knocked out 10 hits in game one.
In game two versus West Texas A&M, Brokeshoulder was brilliant in her collegiate scrimmage debut as she faced 13 batters and issued only a walk as a blemish to her outing. She allowed no one else on, struck out four and then gave way to Merlich in the fifth. Merlich gave up no hits and dished out only a walk in her two innings as she faced eight batters and struck out four to keep pace with Brokeshoulder. Freshman Cristy Whitlock came on in the seventh and West Texas A&M managed five runs off four hits and two walks in her inning of work.
Offensively, though, Tech had everything working as senior utility player (outfield in game one, second base in game two) Leah Legler led the offense going three for three with two runs scored and four runs batted in. Hall's second double of the day plated a pair of runners as well. Hall, Peterson, junior Danielle Matthews and freshman Kristen Reeves (who also doubled) each collected two hits as Tech scored 10 runs on 15 hits and had 10 RBI among 18 players who saw action. (Of course, that doesn't count the bevy of pinch runners used by head coach Shanon Hays in the two games.)
The final score in seven innings was 10-5, but had this been an official game it would've been stopped in five with the Red Raiders up, 10-0, because of softball's mercy rule.
There were somewhere between 85-109 people on hand to watch the games, but it was difficult to get an accurate count because folks kept moving around in the cloudy, breezy and chilly air.
Tech will host another scrimmage afternoon on Tuesday, Oct. 3, when Midland Christian and Lubbock Christian make their way to Rocky Johnson field for games at 3 and 5 p.m., respectively.
