April 14, 2007
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. Behind seven runs of offense and another masterful performance from the reigning Big West Pitcher of the Week, sophomore Chelsea Engle (Folsom, Calif.) the Pacific softball team continued upped their winning streak to six games with a 7-1 win over UC Riverside on Saturday, April 14. The win moved the Tigers to 29-13 overall and 4-0 in conference action while the Highlanders fell to 16-23 overall and 0-4 in the Big West.
After a four hour rain delay forced what was to be a doubleheader into a single contest, the Tigers came out swinging as they put their undefeated conference record on the line against the Highlanders. As they have done all season, Pacific scored first, pushing across the first run of the game in the second inning.
Senior Gina Carbonatto (Lake Stevens, Calif.) continued her career season at the plate with her 35th RBI of the season, knocking a two-out double down the left field line that scored the reigning Big West Player of the Week, sophomore Casey Goldsand (Scottsdale, Ariz.). Goldsand put herself into scoring position with a one-out single up the middle and her fourth stolen base of the season.
The Tigers tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run home run by junior Alyce Jorgensen (Los Altos, Calif.). After senior Jennifer Curtier (Lancaster, Calif.) led the inning off with her second walk of the contest, Jorgensen lifted the first pitch she saw deep of the center field wall to put the Tigers up 3-0. The home run was her fourth of the season.
Two innings later, Pacific would post two more insurance runs for Engle on an RBI single into left field by Jorgensen. Once again, Jorgensen made the Highlanders pay for walking Curtier as she drove home both Curtier and senior Lizzie Hagen (Anaheim, Calif.), who had reached base safely with a leadoff bunt single. Jogensen was credited with just one RBI as the Highlanders left fielder misplayed the sharply hit ball allowing Curtier to score from second. The duo of Curtier and Hagen had moved to second and third on the second straight sacrifice bunt by sophomore Lauren Weyman (Carlsbad, Calif.).
Pacific had a chance to put the game away later in the inning but would leave the bases loaded for the second time in the game.
Down 5-0, the Highlanders were finally able to crack the Tigers' defense for a single run in the top of the sixth inning. UC Riverside led the inning off with back-to-back hits and then loaded the bases with no one out in the inning on a walk by Engle. The Highlanders would score their only run of the contest on a ground out to Hagen at short as she chose to get the batter at first base instead of risk a throw to the plate. The decision proved wise as the next batter grounded to Hagen from which she started an inning ending double play. The double play was unconventional as Hagen tagged out the Highlanders runner trying to advance to third and then started a run down of UC Riverside's lead runner at third base that resulted in her being tagged out trying to get back to third safely.
With the Highlanders now on the scoreboard, Pacific's offense went back to work, putting the game away with another two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the score at 7-1. A leadoff triple by Hagen, her first of the season, started things off for the Tigers. Finally seeing a pitch to hit, Curtier drove Hagen home for the first run of the inning. Curtier would later score an unearned run.
The seventh inning, however, got some what dicey for the Tigers. After Engle retired the first batter of the inning, she would walk the next two Highlander hitters to put runners at first and second. Pacific's only error of the ball game would follow allowing the Highlanders to once again load the bases with no outs in the contest. However, the Tigers would cut down one of the runners at the plate as freshman catcher Karie Wilson (Glendale, Ariz.) was able to recover a wild pitch from Engle in time to get to setup the out. Two pitches later, Engle would induce a foul pop up to Engle to put the Highlanders away.
For the game, Jorgensen led the way at the plate as she record three RBI while going 2-for-3 at the plate. Carbonatto, Hagen and Goldsand each recorded two hits as well while Curtier was a perfect 1-for-1 with three walks and three runs scored.
In the circle, Engle picked up her 16th win to move to 16-9 on the season. In seven innings, Engle gave up four hits and four walks while striking out eight.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow, Sunday, April 15 as they play a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 am at Bill Simoni Field.
