March 7, 2008

Box Score

Tempe, Ariz. - After an early day loss to San Diego, the Pacific softball team picked up their first win over a ranked opponent in 2008, taking down No. 17 San Diego State, 4-1, on Friday, March 7, at the Diamond Devil Invitational. With the split on the day the Tigers improved to 10-12 on the year.

After seeing their three game-winning streak snapped earlier in the day, the Tigers rebounded with their biggest win of the 2008 season, rallying behind their ace, junior Chelsea Engle (Folsom, Calif.) to pick up the win. Engle continued her run of excellence in the circle with her fifth consecutive win, improving to 8-4 on the year. Engle controlled the Aztecs through seven innings of work, giving up just one run and four hits while striking out six.

At the plate, the Tigers again jumped out front of their opponents early, posting the only runs they would need in the third innings, scoring three in the inning to give Engle the advantage. Pacific batted around in the inning, starting the rally with a leadoff single up the middle by sophomore Karie Wilson (Glendale, Ariz.).

After Wilson was retired on a fielder's choice, the Tigers loaded the bases on a walk to freshman Lindsey Pierce (Camarillo, Calif.) and a single down the leftfield line by junior Casey Goldsand (Scottsdale, Ariz.). With runners on every base, junior Lauren Weyman (Carlsbad, Calif.) wasted no time getting Pacific on the board, lacing the second pitch she saw into centerfield, scoring sophomore Brittany Hendrickson (San Jose, Calif.) who was on third base after reaching on the fielder's choice earlier in the inning.

With one run in and the bases still loaded, freshman Nicole Matson (Castaic, Calif.) continued her career day, singling to centerfield to plate two more runs for the Tigers. Matson came through for the Tigers on a 3-2 count despite seeing her two RBI double down the rightfield line taken away from her by a foul ball call earlier in the at bat.

Up three runs, the Tigers would add another insurance run for their No. 1 pitcher, scoring once in the fifth to seal their first win at the tournament. Pacific benefited from a defensive miscue by the Aztec to score the run when Wilson drove home sophomore Kellee Wilson (Tracy, Calif.) who had reached base due to being hit by a wild pitch. Karie Wilson came to bat after three outs should have been recorded by San Diego State if not for the error.

Up 4-0, Engle posted her only blemish in the game in the top of the sixth inning, grooving a two-out, 3-1, pitch to Megan McDonald who deposited the mistake over the leftfield fence for the Aztec's lone run of the contest.

Matson finished the game 1-for-3 with two RBI to finish the day 4-for-7 with four RBI in Pacific's two games. Karie Wilson led the way for the Tigers' against the Aztecs with a 2-for-3 showing in her first start of the tournament.

Pacific will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, March 8, as they take on the No. 1 team in the country, the Arizona State Sun Devils, in day two action at the Diamond Devil Invitational. The game is scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm PST.