April 14, 2006
Riverside, Calif. - Despite a torrential rain and a 23 minute rain delay in the middle of the game, the Pacific softball team took home a 4-3 victory in the first game its three game set with UC Riverside on Friday, April 14. With the win the Tigers improved to 22-15 overall and 3-1 in Big West action while the Highlanders fell to 21-14 overall and 1-3 in conference play.
With wet conditions and slippery balls, both teams, especially the starting pitchers, struggled with their grips and ball control, resulting in the first three runs of the games.
The Tigers struck in the first inning as junior Gina Carbonatto (Lake Stevens, Wash.) worked a walk to lead the game off. After back-to-back balls hit back to the pitcher, Carbonatto moved to third, putting the Tigers in position to score. A wild pitch later, the Tigers had the first run of the game.
However, just as the Highlanders struggled with control, so too did the Tigers. UC Riverside took advantage of a leadoff double by Jaime Yee to tie the game up at 1-1. Yee came around to score on a wild pitch just as Carbonatto did in the top of the inning.
Knotted at one, Pacific broke the tie in the fourth inning on an error by the Highlanders' shortstop. Senior Kristen Allen (Citrus Heights, Calif.) came around to score from second base on the errant throw.
Once again, UC Riverside responded in the bottom half of the inning, as Jennifer Thompson laced a two-out RBI single up the middle the push the game into a 2-2 tie.
In the top of the fifth, the Tigers cracked the scoreboard for the third time, to break the tie and take the lead at 3-2. Sophomore Lindsey Garehime (Redwood City, Calif.) led the inning off as a pinch hitter, blasting her third pinch-hit homerun of the season, a solo shot to left center.
Continuing the theme of the game, UC Riverside responded in the bottom half of the inning as the Highlanders put together another two-out rally posting back-to-back hits. Kristie Martinez singled to into right field and came around to score on a double into the left center gap by Cassie Greenawalt. Just prior to the two hits, junior Lizzie Hagen (Anaheim, Calif.) defensively saved the Tigers a run as she robbed April Murray of a single to left field. With a shot to the left side hole, Hagen made a diving grab and from her knees, fired a rocket to junior Jennifer Curtier (Lancaster, Calif.) who did a split stretch to record the out at first.
Tied at 3-3, the Tigers took their fourth and final lead of the game in their final at bat, posting a single run in the top of the seventh inning to earn the run. Senior Crystal Presson (Livermore, Calif.), who pushed in the Tigers' second run by forcing the error in the fourth inning, began the seventh with a double down the right field line. Pinch runner Lauren Sandelin (Sedro-Wooley, Wash.) advanced to third on a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt by sophomore Mandy Hickman (Phoenix, Ariz.). After a walk to pinch hitter, sophomore Alyce Jorgensen (Los Altos, Calif.), Carbonatto stepped to the plate and delivered a shot to second base that left the Highlanders no other option than to go to first, allowing Sandelin to score the game winning run.
In the circle for the Tigers, freshman Chelsea Engle (Folsom, Calif.) picked up a no-decision in the start. In 3.1 innings pitched, Engle gave up two hits and two earned runs while striking out six. Allen (3-4) picked up the win in relief, throwing 3.2 innings and giving up one run and four hits. For the Highlanders, Stephanie Marshall picked up the loss (13-6) as she gave up four runs, three earned, in seven innings while giving up three hits and striking out five.
The Tigers will attempt to finish the three game series tomorrow, Saturday, April 15, as they complete game two and play game three of the series. Game two will pick up in the bottom of the second inning with the Highlanders at bat, the point at which the game was called due to rain on Friday. Action will continue at 11:00 am.
