March 14, 2009

Box Score

Fullerton, Calif. - Facing the Longhorns for the first time in program history, the Pacific softball team suffered from one big inning to fall 7-2 on Saturday, March 14, at the Judy Garman Classis, hosted by Cal State Fullerton. The loss dropped the Tigers to 10-12 on the year and 1-3 at the tournament while the Longhorns improved to 20-8 overall.

Off to a quick start for the second straight game, the Tigers got on the board as the designated away team with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. With a lead off single from senior Casey Goldsand (Scottsdale, Ariz.) the Tigers put runners in scoring position for the heart of the order after freshman Paige Emerson (Rocklin, Calif.) worked a walk to put two runners on.

Sophomore Nicole Matson (Castaic, Calif.) wasted no time putting the Tigers on the scoreboard, lining a single into center field that chased home Goldsand and sent Emerson to third. With a runner just 60 feet from scoring, freshman Amanda Collier (Sparks, Nev.) put the ball in play in to the left side of the infield, allowing Emerson to score on the Tigers' first out of the inning.

Despite threatening for more runs in the inning, the Tigers would end the top of the first up two runs heading into the field. Pacific's lead would hold for the first two innings of the game before the Longhorns would crack the scoreboard.

After recording the first out of the bottom of the third inning via her third consecutive strike out, senior Chelsea Engle would hit her first snag of the game with a walk to the No. 9 hitter in the Longhorns' lineup. With a free runner aboard, Texas made the most of the free runner with a two-run home run to left-center field from Desiree Williams.

Tied at two, the Longhorns would open up the inning with five more runs, using two more home runs to chase Engle out of the contest and secure a 7-2 lead which they would not relinquish.

Pacific had a number of chances throughout the final four innings of the contest, most notably in the top of the seventh inning. Down to their last out, Pacific loaded the bases for Collier in an attempt to get back into the game. However, Collier's chop towards the right side was picked up by the Longhorns' second baseman and thrown on to first to record the final out of the game.

In the circle, Engle suffered her seventh loss of the year to fall to 5-7 on the year. In 2.2 innings of work, Engle recorded six strike outs, but also gave up seven hits and seven runs. In relief, senior Heidi Helberg (Brentwood, Calif.) threw 3.1 innings of shutout pitching, pitching her way out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth while striking out three.

Torrey Schroeder improved to 9-2 on the year for Texas, throwing a complete game seven innings, while giving up six hits and two runs while striking out two and walking five.

The Tigers will return home on Tuesday, March 17, to take on Colorado State in a double-header at Bill Simoni Field. The first game of the day is scheduled for 1:00 pm.