April 1, 2006
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - Behind an offensive showcase by the top of the order, the Pacific softball team slugged out a pair of wins over UC Davis on Saturday, April 1. The Tigers took game one, 6-3, before sweeping the doubleheader with an 8-5 win in game two. With the wins the Tigers improved to 19-13 on the season while the Aggies fell to 9-22.
The Tigers wasted no time jumping on the Aggies in the opening game as the first three hitter for Pacific reached base safely, culminating with a three-run homerun by junior Jennifer Curtier (Lancaster, Calif.) Junior Gina Carbonatto (Lake Stevens, Wash.) led the inning off with a single up the middle, beginning a slump busting day for Pacific's leadoff hitter. She was followed by senior Brittany Hyams (Huntington Beach, Calif.) worked a walk, the only time in the game that Hyams would not reach base due to a hit. With two runners on, Curtier took a 2-0 pitch to the opposite field, out to left, with just a small flick of her wrist, posting her team-leading fifth homerun of the season.
Down three, the Aggies struck back in the fifth, notching a pair of runs to cut the lead to just one run. Two singles and a 2-RBI double by Nikki Sheldon cracked the scoreboard for the first time for UC Davis in the game.
With just a single run separating the two teams, the Tigers' top responded in the bottom of the inning, breaking the game back open with three more runs. Carbonatto led the inning off with her fourth triple of the season, a shot down the right field line. Hyams again followed, doubling to left field and driving in Carbonatto. The hit was Hyams' second of the game. With one runner, Curtier struck again, this time belting a 250 ft. bomb to dead center field, capping Pacific's scoring. On the game, Curtier was 2-for-3 with two homeruns and five RBI.
In the circle, freshman Briana Santos (Garden Grove, Calif.) picked up her eighth victory (8-3) of the season pitching 5.0 innings while relinquishing two runs on six hits and two walks. In relief, sophomore Alyce Jorgensen (Los Altos, Calif.) struggled with her command, loading the bases in the sixth inning before being lifted for freshman Chelsea Engle (Folsom, Calif.). Despite coming in with the bases loaded and no outs, Engle allowed just one inherited runner to score, pitching 2.0 innings to pick up her first career collegiate save.
Game two witnessed the Aggies' offense ignite, only to be outdueled by the Tigers' bats for the second consecutive game. The second half of the double dip saw the two teams combine for 23 hits and 13 runs as the Tigers picked up the 8-5 win despite being outhit 13-10 on the day.
This time, the Tigers were forced to play from behind, as the Aggies notched single runs in both the third and the fourth innings to take a two run lead. Megan De La Hoya led the third off with a double, eventually coming around to score on a single by Sheldon. De La Hoya finished the game with three hits, two runs, and an intentional walk. On the day she was 5-for-6, with three runs and two intentional walks. The run in the fourth came off of a solo shot by Roxanne Hannan.
Down two, Pacific's offense came alive in the bottom half of the fifth, batting around in the inning to produce five runs. Senior pitcher Kristen Allen (Citrus Heights, Calif.) helped her own cause out by smacking her fifth homerun of the season, a two run shot to start the inning off after a leadoff double by Curtier. Wild pitching and a two run single by Carbonatto accounted for the Tigers three additional runs in the inning. Pacific's threat, however, came to an end as a bases loaded, line drive by Curtier led to an inning ending double play.
With the game seemingly in hand, the Tigers relinquished the lead in the top of the fifth inning, once again giving up a homerun, this time a three-run shot to Sheldon. Sheldon finished the day 3-for-7 with six RBI.
Back to square one, the Tigers took back the lead, this time for good, in the bottom half of the fifth, using small ball to capture the winning run. A day that witnessed five homeruns came down to a beautifully executed squeeze bunt by freshman Lauren Weyman (Carlsbad, Calif.).
The Tigers added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two on a single by Santos.
In the circle, Allen picked up her second win of the season to move to 2-3 on the year. Allen went 5.0 innings, giving up five runs on ten hits. In relief, Engle continued her stellar pitching on the day, picking up her second save of the day, season and her career.
The Tigers will next be in action tomorrow, Sunday, April 2, as they close out their three game series with the Aggies at Bill Simoni Field. The game is scheduled to begin at 12:00 pm.
