April 26, 2009
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - In the third and decisive game of their three game series, the Pacific softball team struggled to find its offensive rhythm against UC Santa Barbara, suffering a 5-0 loss to the Gauchos on Sunday, April 26. The loss dropped the Tigers to 17-29 overall and 2-13 in the conference while the Gauchos improved to 23-22 overall and 6-9 in the Big West.
For the second consecutive day, the Tigers were stifled offensively by Kristen Cobb as the Gauchos' starter held Pacific to just two hits in the contest to pick up her second shutout of the weekend. After relinquishing three hits the day before, Cobb held the Tigers hitless through five and two thirds innings before sophomore Nicole Matson (Castaic, Calif.) broke up Cobb's no-hit bid with a single down the left field line. Senior Lauren Weyman (Carlsbad, Calif.) would add a second hit to the Tigers' total in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Overall, Cobb through her second complete game of the weekend as she went seven innings while striking out seven and walking three to go along with the two hits given up.
Facing off against Cobb, freshman Gabby McDaniel (Sacramento, Calif.) suffered the loss as she lasted six innings while giving up eight hits and three runs. Defensively, the Tigers struggled behind their pitcher as Pacific committed four errors in the contest that cost McDaniel two of her three runs given up. In six innings, McDaniel posted six strike outs, but also walked two and hit one batter. Both walks for McDaniel proved costly as they came at the start of innings and both runners came around to score.
After posting three runs against McDaniel, the Gauchos added two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning, posting a pair of runs on Tiffany Wright's second two-run home run of the weekend. The pair of runs were charged to senior Chelsea Engle (Folsom, Calif.) who was in the game in relief of McDaniel.
Pacific will be back in action on Saturday, May 2, in San Luis Obispo, Calif. as the Tigers travel South to take on the No. 22 ranked Mustangs of Cal Poly. The opening double header begins at 12:00 pm.
