Tech Softball on Short End of 4-2 Decision

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Montana Patin finished the day a perfect 3-3 with an RBI double, but Oklahoma State spoiled Texas Tech softball’s senior day with a 4-2 victory over the Red Raiders Sunday afternoon at Rocky Johnson Field. The loss lands Tech (22-35, 8-10) in sixth place to finish up Big 12 play. This marks the Red Raiders’ best finish to conference play since 2001, when they finished third.

Before the game, Tech honored six seniors that have been instrumental in helping build Red Raider softball the last four years. Jennifer Bowers, Jennifer Corkin, Sarah Losleben, Whitney Riley, Robyn Wike and Devin Zaragoza were all honored as part of the day’s festivities. The Cowgirls scored three runs in the top of the third to escape with the win and put a damper on the excitement in the park.

OSU landed the first blow in the contest by putting across a run on an RBI single from Alysia Hamilton to make it 1-0 early on. Tech responded in kind in the bottom of the inning when Montana Patin doubled to right center to bring in Leah Legler, who had singled and stolen second to start the inning, and tie up the action.

Neither squad managed a whimper in the second, but the Cowgirls’ Jessica Meza landed the big blow in the top of the third when she hit a two-out home run to left to put OSU up 4-1. Amanda Crabtree rebounded strong from the first inning and kept Tech off balance, scattering just a couple hits through the next five innings, while Sarah Losleben and Alex Watkins teamed up to keep the Cowgirls’ bats relatively quiet the rest of the way.

After coming from behind twice in the last week to pick up victories, things looked promising for the Red Raiders in the bottom of the seventh. Megan Shupp and Lauren Preston both beat out a pair of infield singles to start the inning and then moved up a short time later on a wild pitch. Wike just missed a home run with a deep sac fly to left to bring in Shupp and cut the deficit to 4-2.

Legler grounded out, however, for the last out to help OSU escape with the win and the fifth seed in next weekend’s Big 12 Tournament. 

Tech will now head to Oklahoma City for the Big 12 Tournament next weekend. The Red Raiders will now prepare to take on the Missouri Tigers Saturday at 11:30 a.m. CST. Fans will be able to catch the action via www.texastech.com.