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 Matson's fourth homerun of the season got the Tigers close, but just short of teh comeback |
Late Homerun Not Enough As Pacific Falls To No. 17 San Diego State, 3-2
March 9, 2008
Tempe, Ariz. - Closing out the Diamond Devil Invitational, the Pacific softball team could not overcome a three run deficit, falling 3-2 to No. 17 San Diego State on Sunday, March 9. The loss dropped the Tigers to 2-3 at the tournament and 11-14 on the season while the Aztecs improved to 19-8 on the season.
In a rematch of day one action, the No. 17 ranked Aztecs got the upper hand on the Tigers, taking a three run lead in the game before relinquishing their first run of the contest. After pitching the last three contests for the Tigers, junior Chelsea Engle (Folsom, Calif.) had trouble stifling the Aztecs' lineup for the second game in a row, giving up eight hits and three runs in the game while getting bases loaded jams in the first, fifth and sixth inning.
San Diego State was able to push across its first run of the contest in the first inning, using two hit to score the single run. After a leadoff single up the middle got the inning started, the Tigers had a chance to get out of the inning unscathed as Engle was able to get the next to batters to put the ball in the air for the first two outs of the inning. After a stolen base put the runner into scoring position, Brittany Knudsen delivered on a 1-2 single up the middle to plate the first run of the game.
With a one run lead, the Aztecs posted what would be the two most important runs of the contest in the fifth inning, grabbing a 3-0 lead that they would not give back. Once again, Engle appeared as if she may pitch her way out of a bases loaded jam, getting the first two outs of the inning before sustaining any damage. However, just as with the second inning, the Aztecs would not let Engle completely off the hook when Lindsey Martinez delivered a two RBI single through the right side of the infield on another 1-2 pitch.
Down thre runs, the Tigers showed some life in the top of the sixth inning, posting two runs on one swing of the bat to cut the deficit to just one run. After sophmore Kellee Wilson (Tracy, Calif.) walked with one out in the inning, freshman Nicole Matson (Castaic, Calif.) hammered the first pitch she saw in the inning from Samantha Beasley over the fence in left-center field to put the Tigers' on the scoreboard. The homerun was the fourth of the season for the freshman shortstop and her third two run shot of the year.
After the homerun, the Aztecs went to their ace, Christina Ross, who came in and slammed the door on Pacific's comeback, earning her first save of the season. In 1.2 innings pitched, Ross kept the Tigers at bay, putting down all five batters she faced.
For Engle, the loss dropped her record to 9-6 on the season after going 2-2 at the Diamond Devil Invitational. In six innings of work, Engle gave up eight hits and walked four while relinquishing three runs. Beasley picked up her fourth win of the year in the circle for San Diego State, giving up four hits and walking three in 5.1 innings of work.
Pacific will be back in action on Wednesday as they begin a nine game homestand with a doubleheader against Santa Clara beginning at 1:00 pm at Bill Simoni Field.
