Feb. 26, 2012

Box Score vs. Michigan State
Box Score vs. Florida A&M
Box Score vs. Auburn

Boca Raton, Fla. --

- In a tournament notorious for a high level of competition, the Lions held their own this weekend against some of the toughest teams in the nation. The Lions went 2-3 with big wins against Florida International on Friday and Florida A&M on Saturday.

Saturday Feb. 25

LMU, 5 Michigan State, 6.

What started as a pitchers duel turned into an offensive battle in the top of the fourth inning as LMU fell 5-6 to Michigan State (12-7). The Lions gave up seven consecutive hits to the Spartans, bringing in five runs including a 3 RBI double by Mary Kate DiVirgilio to give the Spartans a 6-0 lead.

The Lions fought back hard in the fifth inning courtesy of a Sam Fischer two RBI double to right center to get the Lion's offense going. Relief pitcher Dana Waldusky went on to hold the Spartans at six runs throughout the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, striking out four.

With the game on the line, the Lions offensive kicked into overdrive heading into the seventh inning. Freshman Sterling Shuster cracked a hard single to shortstop, advancing senior Kylie Ahlo to third. Senior shortstop Sam Fischer added to her newly claimed home run record by blasting a three run home run over the right center wall to bring the Lions in within one run. Senior first baseman Kelly Sarginson singled down the third base line to put the tying run on base at the winning run at the plate. Unfortunately the Lions were unable to capitalize and drew their last two outs, falling to the Spartans 5-6.       

LMU, 9 Florida A&M, 0 (5)

            LMU seniors shined in the first game of the day Sunday with designated player Brittany Pereda going 3 for 3 with three RBIs and shortstop Sam Fischer going 4 for 4 at the plate with four RBIs as the Lions offense steamrolled Florida A&M 9-0 in five innings.

In the top of the third inning with both Fischer and Samantha Nelson on base, Brittany Pereda singled up the middle to drive in both runs. After a series of walks and fielding errors by Florida A&M, junior Leilani Montalvo was able to convert her sacrifice single to bring home Pereda and stay on base thanks to an error on the throw. The Lions led 4-0

Junior Molly Medeiros (7-2) earned her third shut out of the season in Sundays win against Florida A&M. Mederios had command the entire game, giving up only three hits, striking out two, and walking one.

Bats continued to swing in the top of the fourth as Fischer sent her 50^th career home run and eighth of the season over the center field wall to drive in two RBI, putting the Lions up 6-0. Later in the inning Pereda and junior Skylar Segura drove in RBI each off doubles to center field. This was Pereda's fourth double of the year and Segura's third to give the Lions a commanding 8-0 lead.  A late rally in the top of the fifth inning give Fischer her third RBI of the game off a single up the middle. The Lions went on to win 9-0 in five innings.

Sunday Feb. 26 Game Two

LMU, 2  #24 Auburn, 10 (6)

            It was an uphill battle from the start as the Lions took on #24 Auburn (14-0) Sunday afternoon. While it was all Auburn for most of the game, junior Skylar Segura kept the Lion offense alive, getting a hit in each at bat, going 3 for 3.

     Sam Fischer drove in the Lions lone RBI off a double to center field, scoring Danielle Smith who had a leadoff single. This was Fischer's eighth double of the season.

Pitchers Dana Waldusky (2-2) and Erica Grady put up a fight as each of them earned themselves three strikeouts against the hot bats of Auburn.

 But the offense of the #24 team in the nation proved to be too much for the Lions as they defeated the Lions 10-2 in six innings. Center fielder, Branndi Melero went two for two with three RBIs for the Tigers.

 The Lions remain in Florida for the USF Under Armour Invitational next week, but first will travel to Dayton Beach for a double header against Bethune Cookman on Wednesday with games at 9 and 11am Pacific Time

--GO LIONS--