April 10, 2011

Box Score

Davis, Calif. - With their second Big West series on the line, the Pacific softball team picked up a 6-0 win over UC Davis on Sunday, April 10 on the road in Davis, Calif. Pacific's victory improved its record to a conference best 24-13 overall and 4-2 in Big West play while the Aggies fell to 18-16 on the year and 3-3 in the conference. With their 24th win of the season the Tigers matched their win total from a season ago.

As she did a day prior sophomore Nikki Armagost proved to be too much for the Aggies at the plate as the Tigers' starting pitcher dominated in the circle to pick up her second straight victory. Scattering five hits throughout her seven innings of work, Armagost picked up her second complete game shutout of the weekend to move to 11-8 on the year. The sophomore allowed a runner to reach scoring position just three times in the game, but in each instance quickly dispatched the threat without allowing the Aggies to reach third. Outside of the five hits, Armagost walked just one and struck out four including striking out her counterpart and the Aggies' top-hitter, Alex Holmes, to end the game.

Offensively the Tigers put up their most runs in a conference game this season as they pushed across six runs in support of Armagost. Continuing the trend from the late game of day one, the first three runs of the contest for the Tigers came with help from the Aggies' defense as Pacific posted three unearned runs in the top of the first to take command of the contest.

An errant throw by the Aggies' shortstop on a tough play in the hole would help gift the Tigers' their first two runs of the inning. On the play both sophomore Megan Hom and freshman Megan Foglesong would score as the duo began the contest for the Tigers with a single and a walk, respectively. With two runs across and a runner back in scoring position, sophomore Amy Moore picked up Pacific's first RBI of the afternoon on a single through the left side to complete the scoring in the inning. The three runs for Pacific would knock the Aggies' starting pitcher, Jessica Thweat, from the contest despite having yet to give up an earned run to Pacific in nearly nine innings of work.

Looking to add some insurance to their lead the Tigers picked up a fourth run in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI bloop single down the left field line by senior Lindsey Pierce. Pierce, who had been struggling at the plate throughout the series, came through with a pair of runners on after freshman Kelsey Rodriguez began the inning with a single up the middle before moving to second on a walk to Hom.

Three innings later and in their last trip to the plate the Tigers put the finishing touches on their victory with two more runs to put the game out of reach. Three straight two-out singles by the middle of the Tigers' order led to the first run of the inning. Picking up her second RBI of the season, sophomore Amanda Collier drove in junior Nicole Matson with a pinch-hit single to right after the junior had reached on an infield hit. In between the two singles, Armagost picked up her first hit of the series with a single up the middle to put Matson in scoring position.

Pacific's three straight singles would put an end to Holmes' day in the circle as the Aggies' ace was unable to hold off Pacific's attack. Reentering the game to pitch, Thweat gave up a single through the left-side to junior Alexa Rivera which allowed Armagost to score the final run of the game and the final charged run to Holmes.

In all, Thweat suffered the loss to fall to 6-4 on the year despite not giving up an earned run in her second start. She threw one complete inning in two appearances in the game while giving up three hits and three runs. In relief, Holmes relinquished seven hits and three runs while striking out three and walking one in six innings of action.

Pacific picked up 10 hits in the game against the Aggies with eight of nine starters recording a hit. Moore led the way with two hits in three trips to the plate while driving in one.

For the weekend, Armagost, along with freshman Tori Shepard, did not allow an earned run in the circle while allowing just three total runs to the Aggies. The duo dropped their combined conference ERA to just 1.54 through six games.

The Tigers are back in action on Tuesday, April 12 when they host Santa Clara at Bill Simoni Field. The game will be Pacific's first ever contest under the lights as the two teams will square off at 7:00 pm.