SEATTLE, NEW MEXICO SPLIT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Behind strong hitting, the Seattle University softball team earned their first victory of the season over the University of New Mexico. The Redhawks defeated the Lobos 9-3, in the early game of the doubleheader on Sunday. SeattleU was unable to maintain the momentum in the final game of the four game series, as they dropped a 9-0 decision. SU returns home with a 1-8 overall record, while UNM improves to 5-3.
Game 1 • SEATTLE 9, NEW MEXICO 3
The Redhawk offense was in sync in their 9-3 victory over New Mexico. Kicking off the game, Katie Antich singled up the middle and was advanced to second on a UNM throwing error. The SU right fielder was then advanced to third on a Lobo illegal pitch. With a runner on third and one out, Jessica Amador popped up to left field, which sent Antich home to give the Redhawks an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
New Mexico responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first, to take a 2-1 lead. Following two scoreless innings, SU broke onto the board to retake the lead. Lauren Berin led off the inning with a single to right field. Two batters later, Theresa Clark singled to center field and was advanced on the throw. Pitch runner Rose Harrington was advanced to third and was sent home on a Megan MacIssac single to center. After a Lobo pitching change, Clark was sent home on an illegal pitch to reestablish SeattleU’s lead.
The Redhawks added to their one run lead with three runs in the top of the fifth. Antich led off the inning with a single to third base and Katie Peterson was hit by a pitch to advance Antich. Amador advanced the runners to second and third with a fly out to center field. With two runners on, Berin slammed a long ball over the right field wall to improve SU’s lead to 6-2.
They continued to add to their lead in the sixth with a pair of runs. With a runner on third, Antich singled to first to score MacIssac. Peterson followed with a single to advance Antich to second. With runners on first and second, Amador came to the plate and singled to center field to score Antich.
In the bottom of the sixth, New Mexico scored a lone run off a two out solo home run. It was the first time the Lobo offense was able to get on the board since the first inning.
In their final opportunity at the plate in the top of the seventh, Clark homered to left field to seal SU’s first victory of the season. The Redhawk defense quickly concluded the bottom half of the inning with three straight outs.
“Kelsey Reynolds pitched great in relief to earn our first win,” said head coach Dan Powers. “Lauren Berin and Jessica Amador had clutch hits to lead our offense and help us earn the victory.”
In the game, SU tallied 12 hits, including three from Antich, and Berin had two hits and three RBIs in the outing. Reynolds earned the victory on the mound, after a two strikeout 5.1 inning performance.
Game 2 • NEW MEXICO 9, SEATTLE 0 (5 INNINGS)
Following their first win of the year, SU was unable to carry that momentum as they fell 9-0 in five innings to close out the weekend series with New Mexico. The Redhawks were only able to tally three hits to UNM’s 13.
“New Mexico jumped all over us in the second game,” said Powers. “Our mental errors cut our rally short on offense and prolonged their at bats from our defense.”
Antich and MacIssac both had hits in the third inning, but SU was unable to put it together and get on the board. Berin accounted for SeattleU’s third and final hit of the game in the fourth inning.
The Lobos defense prevented the Redhawks offense from earning any solid opportunities at the plate as they took season series 3-1.
PORTLAND STATE 12, CS NORTHRIDGE 6
#4 UCLA 11, PORTLAND STATE 0 (6 INNINGS)
LOS ANGELES – For the second time in three days, Portland State found plenty to hit against Cal State Northridge pitchers, as the Vikings tallied 14 hits in a 12-6 victory at the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament.
But after recording double-digits in hits for the second time this year, PSU's bat went cold against No. 4 UCLA in a 11-0, six-inning loss. Two Bruin pitchers combined to hold the Vikings to two hits.
The day started off on a good note though against Cal State Northridge. The Vikings wasted little time jumping on the Matadors, scoring seven runs over the first two innings.
Arielle Wiser led off the game with a single to right field and the hit parade was on for the Vikings. Wiser moved up a base on a wild pitch and then scored on a base hit up the middle by Sadie Lopez.
Portland State tacked on three more runs later when Danielle Lynn hit a bases-clearing double to left center to make it 4-0. Lynn's hit chased Matador's starter Mia Pagano from the game.
In the second, relief pitcher Hannah Fraijo got the first two outs before Brandi Scoggins doubled and Becca Diede plated her with a single. After Lacey Holm reached on an error, De'Chauna Skinner doubled home Diede. Holm ended up coming around as well when the right fielder booted the ball and the Vikings were up 7-1.
The Vikings blew the game open with a five-run fifth inning. Brandi Campos drove in the first run on a fielders choice, Wiser brought home another run on a single to left field, Diede had a two-run double and pinch-hitter Kendra Suhr added an RBI-double.
PSU led 12-1 at that point, but the Matadors inched back in with four runs in the bottom half of the inning and another in the sixth.
Wiser and Diede led the Vikings offense with three hits apiece. Diede doubled twice and drove in three runs, while Lynn also had three RBIs.
Ten Portland State players recorded a hit as they set new season-highs for hits (14) and RBIs (11). They wrapped out six doubles after tallying just five through their first 10 games.
Anna Bertrand (2-2) earned the win after striking out six and allowing only two hits in four innings.
Pagano (0-2) took the loss. She lasted just 2/3 of an inning in the first, but came back on in the seventh and finished the game with a stat line of 1.2 innings, six hits, four earned runs and one strikeout. Fraijo got roughed up for eight runs, six earned, and eight hits over four innings.
The Matadors (1-9) finished with nine hits. Leadoff hitter Lauren Olivas went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI.
In their last game of the three-day tournament, Portland State couldn't muster much offense against UCLA pitchers Donna Kerr and Megan Langenfeld.
Kerr (5-0) started and allowed just one hit in five innings, while striking out nine. Langenfeld pitched the sixth inning, giving up one hit.
The fourth-ranked Bruins showed why they are perennially one of the nation's best offensive teams by registered 15 hits, including four doubles and two home runs.
GiOnna DiSalvatore got the Bruins on the board with a three-run shot to right field in the first inning off of Tori Rogers.
Rogers kept UCLA off the scoreboard over the next two innings, but the Bruins added two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth off of Bertrand, who came in to start the fourth inning.
The Bruins (10-1) then exploded for five runs in the sixth, getting a two-run homer from Langenfeld.
DiSalvatore led UCLA by going 4-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored, while Langenfeld went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a pair of runs. Kaila Shull doubled twice for the Bruins.
Scoggins and Lynn each singled for PSU's two hits.
Rogers (2-3) took the loss, giving up six hits and three earned runs in three innings of work. Bertrand struck out five in 2 1/3 innings of relief, but did allow five hits and five earned runs.
Portland State (4-8) is off next weekend and then returns to action March 5-7 in Las Vegas at the Eller Media Stadium Tournament.
NOTES: The Vikings had nine hits in a 7-1 victory over the Matadors on Friday ... PSU fell to 0-3 this season against ranked teams. All three of those opponents are in the Pac-10 ... Langenfeld (.586) and DiSalvatore (.529) are both hitting over .500 through UCLA's first 11 games. The Bruins are hitting .359 with 21 homers already ... Diede saw her five-game hitting streak come to an end against UCLA. She tallied five doubles on the weekend, which surpasses her total of four in 54 games a year ago. Her .333 average leads the team ... Lynn is tied for the team lead in RBIs with five despite only playing in six games ... PSU was playing at Easton Stadium on the campus of UCLA for the first time ever.
#22 TENNESSEE 11, SAINT MARY’S 2 (5 INNINGS)
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Saint Mary’s softball team dropped its final game of the Troy Cox Classic to No. 22 Tennessee on Sunday afternoon. The Gaels were held to only three hits and committed four errors to fall
2-11 in five innings.
Tennessee got on the board first on a combination of back-to-back errors by shortstop Rebecca Sabatini and three straight walks by starter Britany Linton. The Lady Vols would get their final run of the inning on a bases loaded sacrifice fly to center.
The Gaels fought right back in the top of the second as senior Jenna Smith singled to left center to jump start the SMC offense. Tiffany Gonzales reached on a fielder’s choice to second base, Smith out at second, before Katherine Delpit knocked a homer to left to bring the Gaels within one. Tennessee pitcher Ivy Renfroe got out of the inning with two of her seven strikeouts on the day.
The Lady Vols added to its lead in the bottom of the second by putting up two runs on a trio of base hits. Melissa Brown and Raven Chavanne opened the frame with consecutive singles. With runners at the corners and one out after a fielder's choice, Kelly Grieve stole second to place a pair of Lady Vols in scoring position. A two-RBI single through the right side of the infield by Kat Dotson put Tennessee up 5-2.
After the second, the Gaels were unable to do anymore damage at the plate as Renfroe held the Gaels to one hit, a double by sophomore Michelle Mounts, the rest of the day.
Tennessee would go on to score four more runs in the third, with the help of a two-run homerun, and two more in the fourth to solidify the victory in five innings.
Sabatini had a big weekend at the plate for the Gaels, posting a .357 average (5-for-14) with a double and a homerun. The Gaels knocked out four homeruns on the weekend, scoring 23 runs in five games.
Linton threw 22.1 innings while giving up 18 hits, 8 walks, and striking out 13 to finish the weekend with a 2-2 record.
The Gaels return to the field on Saturday, February 27 when they participate in the two-day Nevada Tournament in Reno, NV.
SACRAMENTO STATE VS. FRESNO STATE CANCELLED RAIN
STANFORD, Calif. -- Due to rains that struck the Bay Area this morning, the Sacramento State softball team’s game against 17th-ranked Fresno State has been cancelled and will not me made up.
The two teams were supposed to play at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon as part of the fifth and final round of the three-day, five-game Stanford Nike Invitational. The Hornets (3-7 overall) completed the tournament with an 1-3 record. Sacramento State beat UC Riverside and fell to three teams either ranked (No. 11 Stanford) or receiving votes in the top 25 (Nevada and Illinois).
Including a one-hit shutout over UC Riverside on Friday, and allowing Stanford just one run and three hits over six innings on Saturday, sophomore right-hander Shelby Voelz finished the tournament with a 0.54 ERA. She allowed just one run and four hits while striking out eight over 13.0 innings. In addition, she limited the opposition to a .095 batting average.
Sacramento State competed in the tournament without the services of staff ace Megan Schaefer who is nursing a concussion.
Offensively, Erin Jones batted .600 (6-for-10) during the tournament with a run, a double and three RBIs. Desiree Beltran batted .417 (5-for-12) with a double and two RBIs, and Alyssa Nakken hit .308 (4-for-13) with two doubles and a team-high four runs scored.
Sacramento State is idle next week and won’t play again until the team’s home opener on Wednesday, March, 3, against Nevada. The Hornets and Wolf Pack will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Sacramento State will also host the team’s first-ever Hornet Round Robin in two weeks (March 5-7). The Hornets welcome both Charlotte and San Jose State to Shea Stadium as each team will play four games over three days.