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Contributed by ACU Athletics
ABILENE - Three home runs lifted Texas Tech's softball team to a 6-1 win over Abilene Christian Wednesday night at Poly Wells Field. It was the Red Raiders' first trip to the Key City since 1998.
The win improved Texas Tech's season record to 15-19, while the Wildcats slipped to 12-15 in losing for only the second time all spring at home.
The Red Raiders did most of their damage in a four-run third inning, getting a pair of two-run home runs from right fielder Kierra Miles and third baseman Jessica Hartwell, who hit the left-field scoreboard with her fourth round-tripper of the year.
Miles' home run was her team-leading 11th and broke a 1-1 tie with two outs. Hartwell then put her side ahead 5-1 following a hit by pitch, and in the seventh, first baseman Brittany Warnecke blasted a solo shot to left-center off reliever Hannah Null.
Null entered the game in relief of freshman starter Allison Turner after the lefty hit her third batter in 2.2 innings of work. The redshirt sophomore escaped a jam with runners at the corners that frame, and went on to toss three scoreless frames before allowing Warnecke's shot with two away.
Both Turner and Null benefited from some incredible defensive plays. Left-fielder Miranda Herron stole a home run from Susan Welborn with a jumping catch at the wall to end the second inning, and center fielder Taylor Brown made a diving catch in the right-center gap to rob Miles of extra bases in the fifth inning.
Null also flashed some leather of her own in the sixth inning, snaring a line drive off the bat of Jordan Bettiol to leave a runner stranded at third base.
Bettiol was on base twice tonight and two of her three stolen bases helped give her team a 1-0 lead in the first after she drew a leadoff walk. She stole second and third base against Turner and her battery mate Cara Hoover before coming home on Miles fly ball to left field.
Tech held that lead until the second when sophomore third baseman Holly Neese crushed her fifth home run of the season over the wall in right field. ACU, however, would only get five hits the rest of the way - all singles - and stranded six runners against complete game-winner Cheyene Powell.
Powell struck out one batter, walked two, and finished her 7.0 innings with just 81 pitches in improving to 5-4.
ACU's biggest scoring threat was mounted in the fifth inning, but with runners at the corners and two outs, Powell got pinch hitter Alyson Bishoff to line out softly to first base.
The Wildcats left two more aboard in the seventh as Brown flied out to shortstop Brooke Scott to end the game after one hour and 49 minutes.
ACU is back on the road this weekend for a big three-game series at first-place McNeese. The Wildcats and Cowgirls have a 5 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday at noon.
McNeese is 3.0 games ahead of ACU in the Southland Conference standings at 9-0. The Wildcats are tied with Central Arkansas and Lamar for third place at 6-3.
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