Central Florida Box

Wagner Box

Feb. 6, 2009

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. - Texas Tech softball kicked off its 2009 campaign in a 12-4 offensive explosion over the 2008 Conference USA champion Central Florida Knights. In game two, Texas Tech defeated Wagner College, 4-2. This is the first time since 2006 that Texas Tech has won its season opener and its first two games.

Texas Tech got out to an early lead on a single by Leah Legler to plate two runs in the top of the second. Central Florida scored a run in the bottom of the inning to pull within one. But, in the top of the third, freshman Holley Gentsch hit a monstrous two-run home run to push the score to, 4-1. UCF garnered two-runs to pull within one, 4-3, after three innings of play.

Tech's offensive explosion blasted into high gear with a six-run fifth inning ignited by a Gentsch walk. Elizabeth Eimen executed a perfect bunt reaching first and pushing Gentsch to third. With runners at the corners, Danielle Matthews singled up the middle to score both Gentsch and Eimen with no outs on the board. A single by Emily Bledsoe would score Matthews, and would advance to second on the throw. Legler had a sacrifice fielder's choice to score Ashley Hamada from third and make the score, 7-3. Stephanie Drewry singled to right which plated Bledsoe and pushed Legler to third. Senior Megan Shupp followed up with a single of her own to score Legler and Drewry putting the score at, 10-3. At this point, the scorekeepers sharpened their pencils, redrew their inning numbers (score sheets get messy when 11 hitters come to the plate, and dusted off their keyboards thanks to all the running, sliding and so on!

In the top of the seventh, pinch hitter Tye Coats blasted a two-run shot out of the park upping the score to, 12-3, and sending publicity types scrambling to find when the last pinch-hit bomb might've been. (We'll get back to you!) Central Florida would get one more run in the bottom of the seventh before Ashly Jacobs forced a ground out to second base to secure her first victory of 2009, in complete game fashion.

In game two, Wagner took the early advantage in the top of the first going ahead, 1-0. With the bases loaded pitcher Tye Coats struck out Amanda Garcia to get out of the inning. The Seahawks would eventually add another one in the top of the third making the score, 2-0.

The bats came alive for Tech in third as Drewry singled to left field to score Eimen, followed by a Coats single to score Bledsoe. With the bases still loaded, Gentsch hit a sacrifice fly to score Legler to break the tie and give Tech the lead, 3-2. Next, Alex Watkins hit into a fielder's choice and reached on an error allowing Drewry to score and give Tech the lead, 4-2, one that it would never relinquish.

Pitchers Jacobs and Coats both pick up complete game wins, striking out three and five batters, respectively. Legler had two hits, three RBI, and scored two runs. Matthews was three for six on the day, with a run scored, which is a really nice birthday present for her mom, Giselle, who made the trek to the dessert for the weekend. Drewry had three hits, two RBI, while scoring two runs. Gentsch had her first collegiate home run, three RBI, and scored three runs, while Shupp contributed two hits, two RBI, and two runs. Bledsoe pitched in two hits, one RBI, while scoring two runs. Coats also had a home run on the day.

The Red Raiders continue at the Arizona State Kajikawa Classic tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. CT, as they face Oregon, followed by No. 9.11 Stanford at 1:30 p.m. CT. Fans can follow the action live at www.texastech.com.

Notes: We have experienced many technical difficulties with the GameTracker feature while at the Tempe Sports Complex (which is otherwise quite lovely). That feature may work tomorrow, but if it doesn't, we have a workaround solution which involves a wonderful Web site called Twitter (do not be afraid!). There is a link from the main softball page which directs a browser to a personal site which Brandon Barfield maintains during the game via his cell phone, two pieces of gum and some candle wax. While he may misspell a few words in the process, it actually may be an even more fun way to follow the game than the little graphics on GameTracker. Working with a young professional who is so amazingly technical? It's a little like having McGuyver sitting right next to you!