Tech Softball Opens Weekend with 8-0 Win
By: Matt Dowdy - Texas Tech University
Updated: March 8, 2013
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech run-ruled UMKC for the third time this season Friday afternoon as the Red Raiders opened the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic with an 8-0 victory at Rocky Johnson Field.
The Red Raiders (14-7) capitalized on a UMKC (7-8) throwing error in the first and then broke the game open with a five-run fifth that was highlighted by a three-run homer from Adriana Perez.
It was Perez' Big 12-leading 11th home run already this season as she drove a one-out shot just inside the left field foul pole. The senior has three home runs and nine RBI in three games against UMKC this season alone.
Shelby Johnson jump-started the third as she delivered Tech's first hit with a bunt single in front of the plate. She repeated the performance to start the fourth as well en route to finishing 2-for-3 on the day and reaching base for the 21st-straight game.
Taylor Powell and Lexie Elkins also drove in runs in the fourth to allow Tech to end the game via run rule. Powell finished 2-for-3 as she was one of three Red Raiders with at least two hits, joining Johnson and Sandy James.
Brittany Talley (5-3) picked up the win after the left-hander surrendered just three hits and struck out five in four full innings. Gretchen Aucoin worked around a leadoff error in the fifth to complete the shutout.
Deanna Friese (4-4) took the loss for the Kangaroos as she gave up eight runs, seven of which were earned, off six hits in 3.1 innings. Katie Kelley came on in relief to record the final two outs in the fourth.
The Red Raiders (14-7) previously defeated UMKC (7-8), 14-2 and 11-3, on Feb. 15-16 at the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M.
