Matt Dowdy, Assistant Director – Texas Tech Athletics (Photo Courtesy of Texas Tech Athletics)
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Texas Tech jumped out to early lead with 13 runs over the first three innings Friday morning en route to a 14-6 run-rule victory over Northern Colorado in the Troy Cox Classic opener at the NMSU Softball Complex.
It was second run-rule victory in the last three contests for the Red Raiders (4-2) heading into the second game of the day against Weber State. Tech also defeated UMKC, 13-5, last Saturday in Louisiana.
The Red Raiders used a four-run first inning off Northern Colorado (1-5) before coming back with nine in the third to break the game open. Tech’s 14 runs and 19 hits were both season highs.
Six different Red Raiders recorded at least two hits in the rout with Sydnie Tapia and Samantha Camello leading the way with 3-for-4 games while Sydni Emanuel finished 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. It was the first time a Tech player had recorded three hits in a game this season.
Camello and Tapia were also among the five Red Raiders to drive in at least two runs as well with Tapia connected on a two-run single in the third while Camello recorded a pair of RBI singles in the third and sixth innings.
Lea Hopson led all players with three RBI as she finished 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the first and then a RBI double that jump-started Tech’s nine-run third inning. The junior college transfer has now homered three times in the first six games.
Kristi Belshe also finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of RBI as she knocked in Tech’s first run with single in the first. She followed a Brittany Lee two-run double in the third with another RBI single up the middle.
Tech’s nine runs in the third marked its most in a single inning since also plating nine on March 10 last year against Troy. The Red Raiders previously scored eight last weekend in the third inning against UMKC.
Gretchen Aucoin (1-0) picked up the win for the Red Raiders in relief of starter Cara Custer. Aucoin, in her fourth appearance already this season, tossed the final three innings, allowing two runs, both unearned, off three hits and three walks while striking out four.
Custer finished with the no-decision after surrendering four runs off seven hits before being replaced to start the fourth inning.
The Bears plated four runs off Custer with two outs in the third as Megan Wilkinson drove a two-run double off the fence in right field while Nichole Hudson followed with a two-run homer to opposite field as well.
Mikayla Duffy (0-3) earned the loss for Northern Colorado after giving up seven runs off eight hits over the first 2.1 innings. She was replaced by Jayme Reddacliff, who surrendered five runs without recording an out, and Breeanna Holliday, who tossed the final 3.2 innings, allowing two runs off seven hits.
The game was the first of three this season between Tech and Northern Colorado as the two schools will meet twice during the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic that will be held March 7-9 in Lubbock.
The Red Raiders close the day with a 2:30 p.m. first pitch against Weber State.
