March 27, 2004

Box Score

LUBBOCK, Texas - Junior Kelly Rhyne had two hits and drove in four runs to lead Texas Tech softball to an 8-5 win over Iowa State on Saturday afternoon at Rocky Johnson Field in the team's Big 12 conference opener.

Iowa State (7-17; 0-1 Big 12) got out to an early lead scoring a run in the first inning and adding two more in the second inning on four hits off Tech starter Erin Crawford to build a 3-0 lead.

Crawford settled down after the third to shutout the Cyclones for the next four innings to allow the Tech offense to get the team back into the game. The sophomore improved her record to 8-6 on the year by throwing her sixth complete game, striking out four and walking only one in the winning effort.

The Lady Raiders (17-19; 1-0 Big 12) got on the board in the bottom of the second. Rhyne led off the inning with a single and stole second and senior Andrea Joachims would get a clutch two-out single to drive in Rhyne and cut the Cyclone lead to 3-1.

Tech would break out offensively in the bottom of the third, batting around to score four runs on five hits and one Iowa State error. With one out, leadoff batter Ashley Parker singled and stole second. Natalie Kula followed with a single and Elyssa Sigala was intentionally walked for the third time this season to load the bases for Rhyne. The bases would not stay loaded, however, as Rhyne hit her sixth double of the season to right center field driving in all three runners. Natalie Enderlin doubled in the next at bat to plate Rhyne and give Tech a 5-3 lead.

The Lady Raiders added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, back-to-back singles by Kula and Sigala would put runners on second and third for Rhyne, who hit a slow roller that was missed handled by the shortstop to allow Kula to score. Enderlin added her second hit of the game to drive in Sigala and push the Tech lead to 7-3. The single by Sigala extended her school-record hitting streak to 20 games, while Rhyne extended her career high hitting streak to 11 games.

Eight of the nine batters in the line-up for Tech would get at least one hit during the contest.

Sigala added more offense in the sixth inning, as she stepped to the dish with two outs and slammed her eighth home run of the season to left field to give Tech an 8-3 lead.

Iowa State attempted to rally in the top of the seventh, but could only manage a pair of runs off Crawford.

Texas Tech softball will wrap up its Big 12 opening series with Iowa State tomorrow in game two, with the first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.