Texas Tech Athletics
Hawai'I
Texas Tech Falls Victim to Long Ball
May 23, 2010 | Softball
May 23, 2010
PALO ALTO, Calif. - Kelly Majam hit a lead off home run to set the tone for Hawai'i and after it was all over her teammates smacked four more to stake the Rainbow Wahine to a 7-1 win over Texas Tech. Hawai'i advances to face the No. 1 seed Alabama at a Super Regional in Tuscaloosa next week and improves to 47-13 while Tech's second-best all-time season comes to a close with a 38-18 final record.
Ashley Brokeshoulder, who came on early in relief of starter Karli Merlich, absorbed the loss for the Red Raiders and finished with an 8-6 record.
"I can't even begin to express how proud I am of this team and how much it meant to all of us associated with this program that we were able to represent ourselves so well," head coach Shanon Hays said following the game. "For our seniors, Ashly Jacobs, Leah Legler and Danielle Matthews to have experienced being a regional finalist is an amazing thing."
Tech, who drew the visitor side of the scoreboard, got things started aggressively in the first when Mikey Kenney drew a walk, wsa sacrificed to second on a bunt by Legler and cruised home on an Emily Bledsoe double down the right field line. But, Majam's solo shot, the first of five total solo home runs for the Rainbow Wahine, evened the score and quickly set the tone for the tournament's 16th seed. (And, it was Majam's 20th birthday, which is rather special.)
The Red Raiders threatened as six players tallied hits on the afternoon, Bledsoe, Kenney, Stephanie Drewry and Jennifer Lee each singled, while Holley Gentsch collected two singles on the game to lead the offense.
Each of Tech's three pitchers threw in the game as Ashly Jacobs came on to pitch the final 3.2 innings.
"I didn't want it to end, but I also have a perspective on what this team accomplished and on how bright the future is for Texas Tech softball," Jacobs said after the game. "We left everything out there today and got beat by a team that's playing really well. When all is said and done, you can hold your head up about that."
Tech's 38 wins on the season were the second-most in the school's history and the appearance in a regional final in this format (in the 64-team bracket) has now set a benchmark for the program. Jacobs, Legler and Matthews finish solid careers, with Jacobs and Legler each landing in several categories in the record books for Red Raiders, and Legler and Matthews who co-earned the high graduating senior honors at the TECHspy awards for academic achievements earlier this spring, completing outstanding academic careers as well.
