Buhl Hits Game Winner Over Utah State

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Junior Erica Buhl drove home Lindsay Azevedo in the bottom of the 10th inning to help Middle Tennessee (14-13) defeat Utah State (3-20) 1-0 in the consolation bracket championship of the Capitol Classic Sunday.

Buhl's, who was named to the Capitol Classic All-Tournament Team, one out rip down the right field line was the only hit in the game for the Lady Raiders through ten innings. Utah State's Kristen Hommel threw eight hitless innings before she was pulled and replaced by Lindsay Janssen, and then Xochitl Ramirez was put in and gave up the winning run and picked up the loss.

Junior hurler Stayc Preator tossed eight scoreless innings after she replaced Jennifer Martinez in the third inning. With the Lady Raider win, Preator improves to 2-6.

Middle Tennessee advanced to the consolation championship game with a 5-4 win over Virginia (23-10) in nine innings. Virginia struck first in the bottom of the second when Stephanie Calhoun doubled to send home short stop Heather Field.

Middle Tennessee answered in the top of the third with an RBI single by second baseman Lisa Sherman sending in Leah Grothause. The Cavaliers moved ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the third on a solo homerun by centerfielder Kelly McCabe.

The score knotted again (2-2) in the sixth inning as third baseman Danni DeCamino singled to send home pinch runner Katie McCraw. The game ended in regulation tied 2-2, and with the international tiebreaker rule enforced, Lady Raider Sherman was placed on second. Virginia Cavalier pitcher Kristen Dennis gave Middle Tennessee its first run in the top of the eighth when she hit Buhl with the bases loaded to send home Sherman.

Middle Tennessee got its second run in the eighth inning when Azevedo scored on a Cavalier error. Virginia tied the game at four in the bottom of the eighth with one swing of Dennis' bat when she hit a two run homer over the centerfield fence.

Sherman put a period on the game when she hit an RBI single in the top of the ninth inning to send home pinch runner Steffi Silva. Lady Raider pitcher Jennifer Martinez (11-4) threw the complete game and recorded 13 strikeouts, which is a season best for the senior from Fairfield, CA.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action on Friday March 22 when the Lady Raiders compete in the Buzz Classic in Atlanta, GA. The team will face Troy State at 2 p.m.

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