March 2, 2007
Pacific vs. Santa Clara Box Score
Pacific vs. UCONN Box Score
Santa Clara, Calif. - After having their home opener washed out earlier in the week the Pacific softball team returned to action in impressive fashion as the Tigers picked up a pair of wins over Santa Clara and Connecticut on Friday, March 2. Pacific's first win came by way of a 5-2 score over the Broncos before posting their second shutout of the season with a 6-0 win over UCONN. With the wins the Tigers improved their season record to 11-3 overall.
In the day's opener, the Tigers struggled early to find any rhythm both at the plate and in the field as the Broncos were able to take an early 2-0 lead over the Tigers with single runs in both the first and the fourth inning. Both of Santa Clara's runs stemmed from leadoff hits followed by well executed sacrifice bunts to move runners into scoring position.
Down two runs the Pacific offense finally took flight in the top of the fifth inning as the Tigers were able to post two runs in the inning to knot the score at 2-2. After back-to-back two out walks to the Tigers' No. 2 and No. 3 hitter to keep the inning alive and a wild pitch that advanced the runners to second and third, starting pitcher Briana Santos (Garden Grove, Calif.) helped her own cause with a bloop shot over first base that was just far enough to plate the two runs.
With the score tied, the Tigers steadily pulled away from the Broncos in the sixth and the seventh inning as Pacific plated a single run in the sixth and two more in its final at bat to come away with their third win of the season over Santa Clara.
The Tigers were able to take advantage of a Santa Clara error in the sixth to post an unearned run on the board and take the lead. They furthered their advantage as both senior Jennifer Curtier (Lancaster, Calif.) and Santos came around to score after leading the inning off with a double and a walk, respectively.
In the circle, Santos picked up her third win of the season to move to 3-0 on the year as she relinquished just two hits and two runs in seven innings of work. At the plate she had two RBI in the offensive cause.
In Pacific's second game of the day the Tigers offense continued to fire away as they posted 10 hits and six runs to pick up the shutout over the previously undefeated UCONN.
After an uneventful trip through the top of the order in the first inning, the bottom of the order got things rolling for Pacific in the second inning as freshman Karie Wilson (Glendale, Ariz.) continued her strong showing at the plate with a leadoff single through the right side. After advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt, Wilson advanced to third on a Husky error and then scored on a single through the left side by fellow freshman Brittany Hendrickson (San Jose, Calif.). The Tigers' other run of the inning came by way of sophomore Casey Goldsand (Scottsdale, Ariz.) who scored on a single by senior Gina Carbonatto (Lake Stevens, Wash.) after reaching by way of the UCONN error.
Two innings later, the Tigers broke the game open with a four spot in the fourth inning. After loading the bases with no outs in the inning, UCONN dodged the first bullet in Pacific's lineup as Carbonatto grounded to the pitcher forcing the first out of the inning at the plate. Even with the first missed opportunity, the Tigers' potent lineup proved to have too many weapons to contain as senior Lizzie Hagen (Anaheim, Calif.) crushed the 0-1 pitch over the center field wall to clear the bases and post a quick four RBI on the day. The home run was Hagen's third of the season and 13th of her career.
With a six run lead, sophomore Chelsea Engle (Folsom, Calif.) put the game on autopilot from the circle as she threw her second complete game shutout of the season by giving up just two hits on the day. Despite recent control problems, Engle had her way with Husky hitters all day long as she struck out a season-high and career-high tying nine batters on the day while walking just three. Engle faced just one jam all day long as she pitched her way out of a bases loaded, one out, situation with a strike out and an enduced ground ball.
For the two games, Hagen lead the way with her four RBI while freshman Kellee Wilson (Tracy, Calif.), Karie Wilson and sophomore Casey Goldsand each had a team-high three hits.
Pacific next travels to Honolulu, Hawaii to take part in the Hawai'i Spring Fling from March 7-10. The Tigers will take on Oregon State, Hawai'i, Boston College and Liberty at the tournament.
