April 19, 2008
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - For the second and third straight games, the Pacific softball team fell by way of shutout, dropping an 8-0, five inning, decision and a 4-0 decision to Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, April 19. The losses dropped the Tigers to 22-27 overall and 4-7 in conference action while the Titans improved to 21-22-1 on the year and 5-6 in the Big West.
In the first game of the day, the Titans jumped out in front of the Tigers in the first inning, posting a single run in their first at bats to take the lead. Designated player Kiki Munoz swatted a two-out solo homerun over the fence in leftfield to start what would be a perfect game for herself.
Despite the early damage, the Tigers stayed out of trouble with junior Chelsea Engle (Folsom, Calif.) in the circle for the next few innings until the fourth inning. In what would become the second to last inning, the Tigers gave up five runs to the Titans, allowing Cal State Fullerton to blow open the contest and setup the early finish to the game. With Engle throwing well, three costly errors by Pacific in the field allowed the Titans to post all five of their runs, capped by a three-run, homerun to leftfield off the bat of Jenna Wheeler.
In the fifth, the Titans sealed their victory behind a two-run shot to leftfield by Munoz as the senior capped a perfect 3-for-3 showing. She finished the game with three runs scored and three RBI to lead the Titans.
Pacific attempted to prolong the game in the bottom half of the inning, putting two runners on with two outs in the inning before Cal State Fullerton's starter, Jessica Doucette, shut the door on her complete game shutout. Doucette (11-10) finished the five inning contest with two hits against and four strikeouts while walking one. Engle (14-14) was tagged for five hits and six runs, only one earned, in four innings of work while striking out four.
Game two proved to be a struggle for the Tigers as well as three more errors on the day helped decide Pacific's fate, falling for the second time to the Titans.
Unlike the previous contest, the Tigers did not struggle to get hits against Christine Hiner, Cal State Fullerton's game two starter, as Pacific knocked out 10 hits in the game to the Titan's seven. However, the Tigers' were unable to string together enough hits to post a run on the board as they were shutout for the third consecutive conference game dating back to their 4-0 loss at UC Riverside one week ago.
Leading the way for the Tigers at the plate was freshman Nicole Matson (Castaic, Calif.) who posted a perfect 3-for-3 showing in game two after going hitless in the opening contest. However, with Matson aboard the Tigers were unable to bring her across the plate, leaving the freshman shortstop stranded at third base twice in the game. Sophomore Brittany Hendrickson (San Jose, Calif.) and junior Casey Goldsand (Scottsdale, Ariz.) each posted two hits in four at bats as the top of the Tigers lineup combined for seven of the 10 hits in the game.
Pacific had its best chance of the afternoon to score in the bottom of the fifth inning, stringing together three straight two-out singles that should have plated the first run of the day for the Tigers. However, a controversial interference call against Pacific ended the rally and kept the Tigers off of the scoreboard.
With the Tigers hitting but not scoring, the Titans took advantage of well placed infield singles and defensive miscues by Pacific in the field to take the second game of the day.
In the second, a double into centerfield by Crystal Vieyra scored the Titans first run of the contest. Again, the Titans cracked open the game in the fourth inning, this time scoring a pair of runs to take a 3-0 lead. A walk and three consecutive infield hits pushed across the first run of the game while a sacrifice fly drove home the second run of the inning. The Tigers were lucky not to give up more runs in the inning as Matson relayed a throw home that cut down the potential third run of the inning which kept the Titans from blowing open the game.
In the seventh, Cal State Fullerton scored a fourth insurance run on a pair of Tiger errors to put away the game.
Hiner (10-11) picked up the win as she went 6.0 innings while giving up nine hits and striking out five. Doucette, game one's winner, finished the contest for the Titans. halting a rally in the seventh after the Tigers posted back-to-back singles to start the inning. Senior Alyce Jorgensen (Los Altos, Calif.) picked up her eighth loss of the season as she threw a complete seven inning contest for the Tigers, striking out seven and walking three while giving up seven hits and four runs, three of which were earned.
Pacific will look to avoid the sweep tomorrow, Sunday, April 20, in the third and final game of the season series with Cal State Fullerton at Bill Simoni Field. Game time is scheduled for 12:00 pm.
