March 1, 2008

Box Score

Fullerton, Calif. - Opening day two of the Worth Invitational, the Pacific softball team could not overcome their own mistakes as they fell to Notre Dame, 11-3 in five innings, on Saturday, March 1. With the loss the Tigers fell to 6-11 on the season and 1-2 at the tournament while the Fighting Irish improved to 5-4 overall.

After being set down in order in the top of the first, the Tigers immediately fell behind the Irish as defensive miscues allowed Notre Dame to post three runs in the inning on just two hits. A throwing error at third to start the game put the leadoff hitter on second base for Notre Dame, setting up the first run of the game. A mental error by Pacific's defense on a sacrifice bunt attempt put the Tigers' in an early jam with runners at the corners with no outs in the inning.

After s a stolen base put runners at second and third, the Irish put their first runs on the board when Katie Laing doubled down the rightfield line, plating two runs. On the play Laing advanced to third on a throwing error, setting up the third run of the game as she would come around to score on the next at bat on a sacrifice fly to leftfield.

In the third, Notre Dame would once again take advantage of jittery play in the field to break the game open with four runs in the inning. Again, an error in the field let the leadoff batter reach base safely to spur the four run rally as the Tigers committed two errors in the inning and allowed four hits.

Pacific broke through with three runs of its own in the top of the fourth inning as the Irish returned the favors given to them early in the game, committing four errors in the inning to give the Tigers their runs. Senior Alyce Jorgensen (Los Altos, Calif.) started the inning rolling for the Tigers with a one-out single to centerfield and then moved to third on a double into the rightfield gap by freshman Nicole Matson (Castaic, Calif.). The double marked the second hit of the game for Matson as the posted two of Pacific's three hits on the day.

After Jorgensen was retired at the plate for the second out of the inning, four consecutive Irish errors gave the Tigers three runs and loaded the bases for Pacific, but the Tigers would leave three runners stranded while still trailing by four runs.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Irish would seal the game with four runs in the inning despite not registering a hit. Four Tiger errors accounted for all four Irish runs as Notre Dame would get the eight run lead they would need to end the contest early.

Junior Heidi Helberg (Brentwood, Calif.) was saddled with the loss as she was tagged with seven runs on seven hits, however only two runs were earned by Helberg. With the loss, Helberg fell to 2-3 on the season. On the other side, Brittany Bargar picked up the win for the Irish to move to 4-3 on the season. Bargar threw four innings while giving up three hits and three runs, with no earned runs.

Pacific will be back in action at 1:30 pm as they take on Purdue in the fourth game of the Worth Invitational.