Golden Eagles split on opening day; Other games rained out

By TTU Sports Information

February 19, 2003

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech got the 2003 softball season started with a win Saturday morning, topping host Georgia State 2-1 on LeeAnne Mongar's two-run home run. The Golden Eagles dropped the afternoon contest to Miami (Ohio), 4-0, then had their games Sunday rained out.

Tech's doubleheader at Alabama A&M on Monday was also washed away. The Golden Eagles (1-1) are scheduled to host a five-team tournament this weekend, but wet grounds and the forecast of more rain threaten to wipe those contests off the slate, as well.

In the season opener, sophomore Lisa Lamb (1-0) picked up the win and Tia Brenning pitched two strong innings of relief to earn a save as the Golden Eagles rode the power of Mongar's fourth inning home run for the 2-1 victory over Georgia State. Lamb pitched five innings, allowing three hits and one run. She didn't strike out any Panther hitters and walked four. Brenning allowed two hits over her two innings of relief, walked one and struck out two.

Georgia State took a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a walk, sacrifice bunt, groundout and a single. After that, however, no GSU runner reached second base against Lamb, and Mongar delivered the decisive swing with one out in the fourth after Stephanie Dallmann had walked. It was one of only two hits by the Golden Eagles against GSU pitcher Karen McNary (0-1), who struck out seven and walked two in seven innings.

In the second game of the day, junior Lori Bayless (0-1) struck out seven Miami hitters in five innings, but gave up five hits and three runs in suffering the loss. Brenning pitched the final inning and yielded an unearned run, then struck out the side with the bases loaded.

Tech managed just three hits in the game off Kris Poggendorf (2-0), who didn't walk a batted and struck out six.

Bayless and Poggendorf locked up in a tight pitcher's duel through the first three innings before Miami scratched out a single run in the fourth on a walk, a single and a two-out, RBI single for a 1-0 lead. Miami added two runs in the fifth on a walk and a two-out home run by Marcie Garcia. The final run came in the sixth on two singles, a fielding error and a balk.

Senior Stephanie Dallmann led Tech in the two games, hitting .400 by going 2-for-5. She also walked once for a .500 on base percentage. Dallmann also stole her first base of the season, giving her 27 consecutive swipes without being caught.