April 28, 2007
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - After an error cost the Pacific game one (1-0) of their doubleheader with Long Beach State, the Tigers pounded the 49ers in game two, 11-2, to even the season series at 1-1 on Saturday, April 28. With the split the Tigers moved to 33-16 overall and 8-3 in Big West play while the 49ers moved to 24-22 overall and 8-6 in the conference.
In a battle for position at the top of the Big West Conference the Tigers and the 49ers came out battling in game one with the 49ers coming out on top in the opening game of the contest, 1-0, in nine innings. Sophomore Chelsea Engle (Folsom, Calif.) picked up the hard luck loss for the Tigers in the circle as she dropped her second game in three starts without giving up an earned run to her opponent. In the contest, Engle relinquished just four hits and one unearned run in the loss to drop to 18-11 overall on the year.
In a pitchers duel between Engle and 49er starter Bridgette Pagano the game came down to a fielding error by the Tigers in the top of the ninth inning to post the lone run of the contest in the favor of Long Beach State. With two outs and a run on third, a runner who reached base due to a walk, junior Alyce Jorgensen (Los Altos, Calif.) was forced to rush her throw from third base on a high chopper off the bat of Franciska Morlet, causing her to throw the ball wide of first base allowing Morlet to score what would be the game winning run.
Pacific had its chances to score in the game as they out hit Long Beach State 9-4 in the game, but left six runner on base. In the first inning the Tigers nearly put the first run on the board, a run that would have been enough to win the game, however, senior Gina Carbonatto (Lake Stevens, Wash.) was thrown out at the plate on a perfect strike by 49ers' left fielder, Lacy Tyler. In the third inning, the Tigers put two runners on with back-to-back one out singles, but once again they came up short of scoring.
Sophomore Casey Goldsand (Scottsdale, Ariz.) continued her tear at the plate as she went 3-for-4 in the game to lead the way for Pacific.
In the second game of the day the Tigers took all their frustration from the game one loss out on the 49ers as they posted 11 runs on 14 hits in a five inning, 11-2, win over Long Beach State. The win snapped a six game winning by Long Beach State and a five game series streak by the 49ers.
With all the runs in the second game for the Tigers none were bigger than the three senior Jennifer Curtier posted in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Tigers the win. With two outs, Curtier came to the plate and drilled the first pitch she saw over the left-center wall to give the Tigers the walk off win. Her three run home run put her at 165 career RBI, giving her the all-time conference record for career RBI as she surpassed Cal State Fuillerton's Monica Lucatero (1999-02) record of 163.
Despite the 11 runs of offense the Tigers put up, remarkably, they were forced to come from behind in the contest as the 49ers were able to push two runs across the plate in the first inning as an error by freshman Kellee Wilson (Tracey, Calif.) allowed the inning to continue and both runs to score.
Down two runs, Pacific's offense came out firing as the Tigers sent all nine batters to the plate in the first inning and scored all five of their first inning runs with two outs in the inning. Carbonatto led the game off with a single up the middle. She was promptly advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Lizzie Hagen (Anaheim, Calif.). With Carbonatto on second, Curtier came to the plate and chopped a single to shortstop that she was able to leg out to put runners at first and second.
With two on, and after a fly out to left field, Jorgensen came to the plate and atoned for her error in the first game with a double off the left field wall that scored both Carbonatto and Curtier. Following Jorgensen's lead, sophomore Briana Santos (Garden Grove, Calif.) laced a double down the left field line to score Jorgensen and put the Tigers ahead for good at 3-2. A single by Kelle Wilson scored Santos to put the Pacific up 4-2 and then Goldsand roped a triple down the right field line to round out the Tigers' scoring in the first. The extra base hit was her first of the season after knocking out 49 consecutive singles.
In the second inning the Tigers continued what they started in the first as once again they sent all nine batters to the plate in the inning. This time, however, Pacific was able to post just three runs as the Tigers left the bases loaded to end the inning. After Carbonatto and Hagen led the inning off with a single and a walk to get things going, the Tigers four, five and six hitters each tagged a single an RBI single in succession to drive in the Tigers' three runs in the inning.
After a scoreless third and fourth inning the table was set for Curtier's for her record breaking fireworks to win the game for the Tigers.
In the circle, Jorgensen picked up her eighth win of the season as she threw five innings while giving up just six hits and no earned runs in the contest. She struck out two while only walking one. The 49ers threw two pitchers at the Tigers as Kelly Cross lasted just 0.2 innings relinquishing five hits and five runs. Melissa DeMarco went the other four innings, giving up nine hits and six runs.
Carbonatto posted three hits in four at bats in game two while tallying five hits on the day. Goldsand posted one hit in the second game while posting four hits on the day.
The two teams will play their third and final game of the 2007 season tomorrow, Sunday, April 29, at 12:00 pm at Bill Simoni Field. Before the game Pacific's four seniors, Carbonatto, Hagen Curtier and Vianney Campos (Guadalajara, Mexico) will be honored for their contributions to the Pacific softball program.
