Box Score TEMPE, Ariz. - Texas Tech scored eight runs in the first inning and never looked back as the Red Raiders handed Bradley a 13-2 loss in the season opener for the Braves Friday afternoon at the Kajikawa Classic.
A leadoff walk and one-out single in the bottom of the first inning led to the first run and Texas Tech's Logan Hall provided the big hit in the inning, belting a three-run homer to give the Red Raiders an early 4-0 lead. Later in the inning, Texas Tech (2-0 overall) loaded the bases and Mikey Kenney drove in two more runs with a two-out single. Stephanie Drewry had a run scoring single and Emily Bledsoe capped the frame with a double to left center field.
Texas Tech added two more runs in the bottom of the second on a Raven Richardson two-out double and run-scoring single off the bat of Holley Gentsch as the Red Raiders pushed the lead to 10-0.
Bradley (0-1 overall) struck for a run in the top of the third inning. Freshman Alex Chandler (Needles, Calif./Needles) hit a single in her first career at bat and junior Julie Sherman (Hickory Hills, Ill./Stagg) drove in Chandler from third with a two-out triple. Senior Brittany Fairbairn (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East/Kankakee C.C.) drew a two-out walk, but the Braves left runners at the corners.
The Red Raiders pushed another run across in the bottom half of the third inning after Bledsoe drew a two-out walk. She came around to score on a double by Cydney Allen to push the Texas Tech advantage to 11-1.
The Braves managed another two-out run in the top of the fourth inning. Senior Denise Jilka (Eureka, Mo./Eureka) reached on an error with and senior Katelyn Kegley (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) followed with a two-out single. Pinch runner Alison Kresl (Kankakee, Ill./Bishop McNamara) stole second and Jilka swiped home on the double steal to make the score 11-2 in favor of the Red Raiders.
Richardson drove in her second and third runs of the game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth and Texas Tech hurler Karli Merlich retired the Braves in order to close out the 13-2 victory.
Kelsey Dennis picked up the victory in the circle for the Red Raiders, giving up three hits in the three innings. Junior Lindsay Hufeld (Mapleton, Ill./Limestone/Illinois Central) suffered the loss for Bradley in her first career outing with the Braves. Sherman highlighted Bradley's offensive efforts with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate.
Bradley continues play at the Kajikawa Classic Friday night with an 8:30 p.m. (CST) contest against in-state foe Northwestern.
