Feb. 25, 2005

Box Score

Columbus, GA - After dropping a tough 3-2 decision to the no. 10-ranked LSU Tigers in the opening round of the 10th Annual National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic, Texas State softball fared no better in Friday's nightcap, losing to 25th-ranked Fresno State by an 8-1 count.

The Bobcats will look to get back on track on Saturday, when they face Seton Hall in their final pool game at 11:30 CST. Play will then shift later in the day to bracket play, as all 16 teams will split into three seperate brackets based on their records in the tournament.

No. 10 LSU 3, TEXAS STATE 2 (8 innings)

An error in the first extra frame spoiled Texas State's upset bid on Friday afternoon. With one out and the score knotted 2-2, LSU shortstop Andrea Smith was the placed runner on second to start the extra frames. A shot off the bat of Tiger centerfielder Camille Harris was knocked down by pitcher Katie Ann Trahan, but an errant throw to first base allowed Smith to round third and score the eventual winning run.

Trahan (5-8) was the hard luck loser in pitching her sixth complete game of the season. The junior right-hander scattered seven hits for the Bobcats (5-11) over eight innings and struck out 10. Emily Turner (4-0) was the winning pitcher for LSU (8-1), the defending NFCA Leadoff Classic champion and third-place finisher in the 2004 Women's College World Series.

Texas State's offense production consisted solely of a fourth inning rally that gave the Bobcats a 2-0 lead. Junior centerfielder Amy Hromadka began the inning with a bunt single, and rightfielder Amy Krueger followed that with an infield single. After Kristen Gunter reached on a sacrifice, there was also a fielding error Tiger third baseman Lauren Delahoussaye to plate Hromadka. Trahan helped her own cause on a sacrifice fly to center that plated Krueger and gave the Bobcats the lead.

The Bobcats could not manage another hit in the contest, as their eighth inning rally fell short. With Holly Britain the placed runner to start the inning, a sacrifice by senior pinch hitter Lauren Griffin moved the tying run to third. A fly out by shortstop Leslie Sharp and ground out by Hromadka ended the Bobcat rally.

No. 25 FRESNO STATE 8, TEXAS STATE 1

Jamie Southern's two-run home run ignited a four-run first inning and propeled the Fresno State Bulldogs to an 8-1 victory over the Bobcats late Friday night.

The loss dropped the Bobcats to an overall record of 5-12, while Fresno State improved to 3-1, having been rained out of competition during the two previous weekends.

Southern was the spark plug at the plate for the Bulldogs, going 3 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Christina Clark added a solo home run for the Bulldogs and also scored twice in the game.

Freshman Olivia Henley (0-4) started in the circle for the Bobcats and dropped her fourth decision of the year. Henley surrendered nine hits and six runs (three earned) in four innings of work.

Offensively, Amy Krueger provided the only real spark for the Bobcats. The junior outfielder laced a two-out single to right field in the third inning that plated Leslie Sharp for the Bobcats only run. Sharp had singled earlier in the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball.

Fresno State countered with two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, highlighted by Clark's home run off Bobcat reliever Krystal Gary, to provide the final margin.