Feb. 11, 2006
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific Tigers softball team opened its 2006 season with a 4-0 win, then completed a sweep of Santa Clara with a 12-4 win in the second game on Saturday, Feb. 11.
Following the doubleheader sweep, the Tigers are 2-0 on the season, while Santa Clara is 0-2.
The Tigers got all the runs they would need in game one during the second inning as junior Lizzie Hagen (Anaheim, Calif.) led off with a walk, then freshman Heidi Helberg (Brentwood, Calif.) put runners at first and second with no outs. Sophomore Mandy Hickman (Phoenix, Ariz.) loaded the bases as she reached on a bunt in front of the catcher. One out later, junior Gina Carbonatto (Lake Stevens, Wash.) drove in the first run of the game with a single to center. With two outs and the bases still loaded, freshman Lauren Weyman (Carlsbad, Calif.) laced a two-run single into center field, giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
Junior Jennifer Curtier (Lancaster, Calif.) added to the Tigers lead in the fifth with a solo home run over the right field wall. Curtier's blast traveled well over 250 ft.
Freshman Briana Santos (Garden Grove, Calif.) picked up the win (1-0) for Pacific as she held the Broncos scoreless, scattering six hits and two walks in seven innings.
Game two proved to be more of an offensive battle as the Broncos led 1-0 after two innings.
Pacific rallied with two runs in the third on three hits and an error. Weyman pushed the Tigers out in front with an RBI single after Pacific's first run scored on an error.
The Broncos tied the game with a run in the fourth, but the Tigers tacked two more on in the bottom half of the frame. A one-out single by Hagen got things started. She was at second with two down, when senior Brittany Hyams (Huntington Beach, Calif.) reached on an error by the first baseman. Hyams ended up at second on the error and Hagen scored, as the Tigers reclaimed the lead 3-2. The next batter, Carbanotto, blooped an RBI single to center, making it a 4-2 game.
Sant Clara tied the game again with two runs in the top of the fifth, but Curtier put Pacific back in the lead in the bottom of the fifth, this time for good. With one out in the inning, Curtier lifted a triple into left field, then scored the lead run on a sacrifice fly from senior Kristen Allen (Citrus Heights, Calif.).
Leading 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth, Pacific ended the game with seven runs in the frame. The Tigers had six hits in the inning, highlighted by a bases clearing double from Allen.
Pacific freshman Chelsea Engle (Folsom, Calif.) picked up the win (1-0) as she allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings.
The Tigers will be back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 14 as Pacific travels to Fresno to take on Fresno State at 6 p.m.
