April 7, 2008

Game 1 Stats | Game 2 Stats

MEMPHIS--The Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs fell to 1-11 in Gulf South Conference games decided by two runs or less Monday afternoon as they lost a doubleheader to Arkansas Tech, falling 3-1 in the first game and 1-0 in 10 innings in game two.

Arkansas Tech (31-9, 13-3 GSC) scored the winning runs in the last inning of both games as they jumped into a tie for first place in the Gulf South Conference West Division race.

The Lady Bucs (14-20, 1-15) struck first in game one as Kathleen Nelson (Bartlett, Tenn./Bolton HS) launched a leadoff homer in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Lady Bucs only had two other baserunners for the game, though, as Sammy Maness (Gallatin, Tenn./Gallatin HS) singled in the second and Nikki Dunn (Southaven, Miss./Southaven HS) singled in the sixth.

The Golden Suns tied it in the top of the fifth as Kacie Visnia singled to start the inning. She moved up to third on a Krista Cifuentes single, and she scored on a Molly Schweigert single. CBU pitcher Kallie McFatter (Mansfield, Texas/Summit HS) pitched out of the jam, leaving two runners on and keeping the game tied.

As happened in Sunday's meeting, however, defensive miscues doomed the Lady Bucs in a critical situation. This time, it happened in the top of the seventh. With runners on first and second and one out, a throwing error allowed two runners to score, breaking the tie and spoiling another strong outing from McFatter (5-11), who allowed two earned runs in 6.1 innings.

Dana Aldrich (17-5) earned the win for ATU as she allowed three hits and no walks while striking out six.

In game two, the Lady Bucs left seven runners on base as they were shut out. Both Dunn and ATU pitcher Casey Hammons kept the offenses off the scoreboard for nine innings.

The Lady Bucs' best chance to score was in the fourth inning when Casey King (Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound HS) was tagged out trying to score on a Maness single to center.

In the 10th inning, the international tiebreaker rule placed ATU's Jessica Fields on second to start the inning, and an error on a sacrifice bunt allowed her to score. Dunn kept ATU from scoring again, but the Lady Bucs stranded their runner on third inning, ending the game with another defeat.

The lack of offense spoiled another outstanding start by Dunn (9-9), who allowed just five hits and one unearned run in 10 innings, with five strikeouts.

Hammons (13-4) picked up the win for ATU, tossing nine shutout innings while allowing five hits and two walks. Aldrich collected her fifth save with a 1-2-3 10th.

The Lady Bucs' game scheduled for tomorrow afternoon against Rhodes has been cancelled and will not be made up. The Lady Bucs will be back in action Thursday night at the GSC Crossover in Decatur, Ala., as they take on West Florida at 6 p.m.