CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Tigers dropped a pair of games to tough competition on day two of USF the Game Tournament. Towson (13-7) fell 3-1 against Syracuse before Texas Tech earned a 6-2 win in the second game.
"We had a tough day with the bats," said Coach Lisa Costello. "We hit the ball hard just not when we needed to and we did not do well with runners on and two outs today."
The Tigers found themselves down early to the Orange as Syracuse scored a run in the top of the second. With the bases loaded and one out, Ashley Dimon hit into a fielder's choice which allowed Emily Thompson to score.
Syracuse added to its lead in the fifth as Rachel Helman singled and Leah Porter scored on the play.
Towson got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs in the frame, Sammi DiPompo ripped a double to left field. DiPompo's base knock allowed Rachel Miller to score. The Tigers were looking for more in the frame but the Orange got the third out and the Tigers left the bases loaded.
Syracuse would tally its final run of the game in the sixth. Lisaira Daniels reached on a single and stole second and third. She would score on Hallie Gibbs' base hit.
Shannon Johnston took the loss for the Tigers after surrendering three runs in five plus innings of work. She gave up seven hits before being relieved by Dominique Ortega. Ortega threw the final two innings and did not allow a run on two hits. Stacy Kuwik earned the win for Syracuse after giving up one run on three hits in five innings.
Courtney Wittner finished with two hits for the Tigers. Gibbs and Helman each finished with two hits and an RBI for Syracuse.
Against the Red Raiders, Texas Tech took an early lead with three runs in the first. Holly Gentsch had a bases loaded walk to force in a run. Jennifer Lee delivered a two-out RBI single up the middle to plate two runs later in the frame.
Texas Tech would add to its lead in the second. Jennifer Drewry led off with a single and scored when Ashley Harnada reached on a Tiger error.
The Red Raiders would add a single run in the fourth on back-to-back two out doubles. Gentsch homered to left in the fifth to give Texas Tech a 6-0 lead.
The Tigers got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning. Joyce Delp led off with a single and Stevie Patnode went into run for her. After Texas Tech got the first out, Brianna Jones came through with a single to put two runners on. The runners each advanced a base on a wild pitch before Kim Lempa singled to score both runners.
Katie Lingmai took the loss for the Tigers after allowing six runs, two of which were earned in five innings. Ortega pitched the sixth for the Tigers and did not allow a base runner. Ashley Brokeshoulder earned the win after allowing two runs on four hits in the complete game effort.
Lempa finished with a hit and the two RBIs while Jones had a hit and a run scored. Gentsch had a hit, two RBIs and a run scored for Texas Tech.
The Tigers look to snap a three-game losing streak when they close out play at USF's tournament on Sunday, March 21. Towson faces South Florida at 10 a.m.
-- TIGERS --
