WACO, Texas - Starter Kasha Kolb threw her best outing of the season, but an impressive start from her UTEP counterpart shut down the Shocker offense as they fell in their final game of the QTI/Getterman Classic, 2-0. 

The Shockers final game of the tournament showed all the signs of a classic pitching duel as Shocker starter Kasha Kolb threw her best outing of the season against the Miners. In the circle against the Shockers, senior Stacie Townsend went to work for UTEP.

Sophomore Kersti Rowan rattled the pitching first when she moved her way to third after reaching on a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first. The Shocker left fielder would advance no further than that, however, and thanks to Townsend, neither did the rest of the Shockers.

In the meantime, Kolb went strikeout for strikeout with the Miner senior, sitting down seven on Sunday. The sophomore didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning and quickly obliterated the threat with back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout.

The Shockers got to Townsend in the sixth, when freshman shortstop Sammie Shook tagged the only base hit of the game. The threat was short-lived as a stellar defensive effort by Courtney Ware in left. Her diving catch resulted in an inning-ending double play.

Defense made way for offense as the Miners' bats sparked in the following at bat. An infield hit and a walk put the two runners on that would eventually win the game for the Miners. Two consecutive hits later, Kolb's morning was finished - just one out shy of the complete game. Both hits plated the runners aboard to give the Miners the 2-0 lead.

Townsend took care of business in the home half of the inning, as the Shockers' went down in order to give UTEP the win. 

The Shockers are in action again next weekend when they head back to Texas for the UT-Arlington Classic.

-Wichita State-