April 27, 2008
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - Playing their last home game of the 2008 season, the Pacific softball team fell to Cal Poly, 3-0, on Sunday, April 27. The loss marked the Tigers third straight Big West Conference series loss and moved them to 23-30 overall and 5-10 in conference action. The Mustangs improved to .500 on the season at 20-20 while improving to 8-7 in Big West play.
Pacific's 30th loss on the season marked the first time since the 1995 season the Tigers have lost 30+ games in a season. In addition, the loss snapped a 12 year stretch in which Pacific finished the season at .500 or better.
Playing in front of their home crowd for the final time this season, the Tigers struggled offensively for the second consecutive game, posting just two hits against Helen Pena, who was Cal Poly's starter for the second straight contest. Despite hitting the ball hard throughout the day, the Tigers could not find any open grass. The lone exceptions throughout the day were a single into centerfield by junior Casey Goldsand (Scottsdale, Ariz.) in the first and a single through the leftside by freshman Nicole Matson (Castaic, Calif.) in the fourth.
With the Tigers offense struggling, the Mustangs offense took the advantage presented, knocking out seven hits to produce their seven runs. Even with the hits allowed, the Tigers held close throughout the day, stranding 10 Mustang runners on base as Pacific's pitching was able to pitch its way out of numerous jams.
However, playing on the edge for most of the afternoon, the ball finally dropped for the Mustangs in the top of the fourth inning after loading the bases due to two walks and a single. Senior Alyce Jorgensen (Los Altos, Calif.) appeared as if she may skirt danger once again in the inning as she struck out the Mustangs eighth and ninth place hitters to post the first two outs of the inning with out a run scoring. Cristen Lee, however, made sure Cal Poly would not come up empty handed in the inning as she took the first pitch she saw and laced a single up the middle to plate the first run of the afternoon.
With one run across, the Mustangs put the game away in the top of the fifth inning, scoring two more runs to take a 3-0 lead on Pacific. Once again, the Mustangs worked the bases loaded in the inning, this time with two outs. In relief of Jorgensen, junior Chelsea Engle (Folsom, Calif.) got what she thought was an inning ending ground ball to third base from Jessica Rogers. But, an errant throw to first over the head of sophomore Kellee Wilson (Tracy, Calif.) allowed two unearned runs to cross the plate, sealing the Tigers loss on the day.
Jorgensen picked up the loss in the circle for the Tigers dropping to 6-9 on the season. In four innings of work she gave up five hits and two runs, one earned with six strikeout and four walks. Pena picked up her second consecutive victory for the Mustangs to improve to 8-6 on the year. She threw a complete seven innings, striking out seven while not allowing a walk.
The Tigers will head to Santa Barbara, Calif. to take on the second place UC Santa Barbara Gauchos on Saturday, May 3 as they continue Big West Conference play. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 12:00 pm.
