March 11, 2006
Box Score
Stanford, Calif. - The Pacific women's softball team took home a victory over Wisconsin, 8-2, on Saturday, March 11, in their first game of the Stanford Classic. WIth the win the Tigers improved to 9-8 overall while the Badgers fell to 5-9 on the season.
After being rained out of action in their last four contests, the Tigers hit the field in day two of the Stanford Classic for a battle with the Badgers of Wisconsin. Despite the rust and a quick start by Wisconsin that resulted in two first inning runs, Pacific responded with solid hitting and strong pitching to capture their ninth win of the season.
Down two, the Tigers hacked away at the Badgers lead in the second inning, notching one run in the inning. Senior Kristen Allen (Citrus Heights, Calif.) started the Tigers' second off with a single to left field. Junior Lizzie Hagen (Anaheim, Calif.) pushed Allen to second with a sacrifice bunt giving the Tigers the opportunity to cut into the lead. With two out, freshman pitcher Briana Santos (Garden Grove, Calif.) helped out her own cause lacing her first hit of the game through the left side, notching her first RBI of the game and of the season.
Still down one, the Tigers copied their plans from the second inning in the fourth, tying the game up with a single run in the inning. This time however, all the action took place with two outs as once again Pacific's freshman came through in the clutch. With two outs, freshman Lauren Weyman (Carlsbad, Calif.) singled through the left side of the infield and promptly stole second to put herself into scoring position for Santos. Again, Santos stepped up for the Tigers singled, driving a shot into centerfield that drove in Weyman.
Two innings later, Santos gave the Tigers the lead in the sixth inning for good. After a one out double by Weyman put the lead run at second, Santos laced her third hit of the day with a single down the left field line that drove in the go ahead run. The Tigers added five insurance runs in the inning as senior Brittany Hyams (Huntington Beach, Calif.) came through with a two out, bases loaded, single that scored three runs. Hyams was credited with one RBI as an errant throw by the Badgers shortstop allowed the Tigers to push across two extra runs. Not to be outdone, junior Jennifer Curtier (Lancaster, Calif.) kept her hitting streak alive as she belted her third homerun of the season as she took the first pitch she saw over the left center wall to score the Tigers' final two runs of the game. Curtier's current streak now stands at nine games, the longest of the season for any Tiger hitter.
On the day, the Tigers were led by Santos as she had three hits and three RBI at the plate while pitching seven strong innings for Pacific in the circle. Santos gave up six hits and two runs while striking out four in the complete game. Santos improved to 4-1 on the season with the win.
The Badgers' Brook Eden picked up the loss, dropping to 4-4 on the season as she gave up nine hits and six earned runs, eight total runs, in seven innings of work. At the plate Stephanie Chinn led the way with a perfect 2-for-2 outing and one RBI.
The Tigers will again be in action toady as they take on Miami of Ohio in the sixth game of the day at the Stanford Classic. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm but an extra inning game in the first game of the day has pushed the entire schedule back by approximately two hours.
