Fresno State Athletics
Undefeated Fresno State, Texas Tech Square Off Saturday
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 21, 1999
Fresno, Calif. - Fifth-seeded Texas Tech advanced to Saturdays game and a matchup with top seeded Fresno State after a 1-0 victory tonight over Pacific.
Sandy Butler, who had one of the two hits for the Red Raiders in the game, reached first base on an error and advanced to second on the throw. She moved to third on a sacrifice. Aimee Weathers sacrificed Butler home for the game-winning run. Tech scored without a hit in the inning.
Texas Tech had two hits in the game, Pacific had three and both teams committed an error, but the Tigers error cost them the game.
Raider pitcher Amandy Renfro had six strikeouts and Pacifics Brandee McArthur had five, both pitching complete games.
Both Texas Tech and Fresno State are 2-0 in the tournament so far and will meet in the 2:30 p.m. game on Saturday. Pacific and South Carolina will meet at 5 p.m.
TEXAS TECH Coach Renee Luers-Gillispie
"It was a hugh game, we knew we had to be on top of our game for this one. This was the third time we had faced them (Pacific) this year. We knew what their game was like from the previous meetings, but they have definitely gotten much better. It was a very well pitched game."
"We did everything we coule to get the runners on and score them. It is amazing that you score in the first inning and then have to hold them for seven innings to win the game."
"Fresno State is going to be tough. I have idolized Margie Wright all of my life. I started at Illinois State, where she started. But we are relaxed enetering the game. The girls are excited about going against Fresno State."
PACIFIC Coach Brian Kolze "Amanda (Renfro) has beaten us three times this year. When she had to get us out, she got us out. She doesn't fall behind hitters. She throws her pitches where she wants. They are riding a hot wave on her arm right now."
"The fact is that the effort was there, the execution was not though. I never doubted the effort of the girls. Obviously, we have to score some runs for the next game. We will start with one (run). Tomorrow we are facing a pitcher we have never seen before because we have never seen South Carolina ever. So, those adjustments might have to take course during the game."
Top-seeded Fresno State defeated Stanford 5-2 Friday evening, but the Cardinal played a big part in its own defeat, committing four errors aiding Fresno States three-run fifth inning.
Lead-off hitter Becky Witt went 2-3, including a double, and scored two runs in the Bulldog win. Witt doubled down the left field line to score Alicia Dowland and then scored after Vanessa Czarnecki reached base on an error. Stanford responded with one run in the top of the fifth when a fielders choice scored Ramona Shelborne. Shelborne reached third on a Fresno State error. In this inning, Lindsay Fossatti touched third and threw to first for a double play to get the Bulldogs out of a tough inning and halting a Stanford rally.
Fresno State came back with three runs in the fifth as Witt singled, scoring Ronconcio (pinch running for Fossotti) and Dowland reached base on an error and got to third on Witts single. She scored when Czarnecki grounded out. Witt scored on Amanda Scotts RBI single.
Fresno State plays the winner of the Texas Tech / Pacific game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Stanford was eliminated from regional play.
South Carolina bounced back from its upset yesterday and defeated Florida A & M 2-0, eliminating the Rattlerettes from NCAA Regional play.
South Carolina scored the only run it needed in the first inning and then added an insurance run in the fifth. Pitcher Megan Matthews gave up only two hits to Florida A & M, one a double to Kim Browning. South Carolinas Adrienne Genovese went 2-3 from the plate and drove in one run with Kim Pietro bringing in the other.
South Carolina advances to tomorrow nights 5 p.m. game vs. the loser of the Texas Tech / Pacific contest, scheduled for tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Post-Game Quotes
Game 1 - South Carolina 2, Florida A & M 0 NCAA Regional 4 - Fresno, Calif. Bulldog Diamond
SOUTH CAROLINA Coach Joyce Compton
"I was very happy we got the win. It wasnt pretty, but we were able to manufacture the runs when we needed it. We werent hitting well, but we got that security run that allowed our pitcher to keep control of the game. Our two hitters that we usually count on have not been producing in the tournament yet. We need to get some good production out of those two. We have to get our batters in there swinging at good pitches. I think we made better adjustments today then we did in yesterdays game against Texas Tech."
FLORIDA A & M Coach Veronica Wiggins
"We were really happy to be in this position. Hopefully the members of our team will take all of the experiences with them and bring them back for next year. Our whole team was just so excited to be here. Our one objective was to just go out there and have as much fun as possible. We just happened to run into some tough pitching throughout the tournament. Once you get to this level, all of the pitching is so good, we just didnt make enough adjustments and it ended up hurting us in the long run."
