March 19, 2008

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Los Angeles - LMU rode the power of the long ball Wednesday, hitting seven home runs in two games to sweep a double header from UNLV, 8-0 in five innings and 9-4. Junior Megan Ackerman had three homers on the day while junior Chelsie Tysdal and sophomore Darcy Pagnini each added two each as the Lions (22-9) run their winning streak to seven games.

In game one, the Lions did all their damage in the fourth inning, sending 11 runners to the plate in an eight-run frame. After struggling to get their timing down on UNLV starter Heather Slettvett with just one hit through the first three innings, the Lions broke out in a big way. With one out, Slettvet walked sophomore Christine Foley to bring up Ackerman, who waited for her pitch before turning on it and sending it over the left field fence to give LMU a 2-0 lead. A single by sophomore J.J. Hartung and a double by freshman Brittany Mayers then put runners on second and third for junior MiaSarah Cesena, who singled up the middle. UNLV centerfielder Brittany Bolinger charged the ball to come up throwing but rose too soon, allowing it to go under her glove. Both runners came home and Cesena ended up on third as LMU doubled its lead. UNLV changed pitchers but the hits kept coming. An infield single and hit batter loaded the bases and, two batters later, Tysdal uncorked her first dinger of the day, a grand slam to left, to make it 8-0.

In the circle, sophomore Melissa Dykema (8-5) was cruising, holding the Rebels to three hits and three walks while striking out six.

After going yard in her final at-bat of the first game, Tysdal did so again in her first plate appearance of the second, sending a two-run shot down the line in left to give the Lions a 2-0 lead in the first.

UNLV came back with a run in the fourth but Pagnini restored LMU's two-run cushion with a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the fourth. After Tysdal singled and was sacrificed to second, Ackerman blasted her first dinger of the game and second of the day for a 5-1 lead.

Again the Rebels struck back in the fifth but the Lions went deep in the bottom of the frame, this time with Pagnini delivering her second homer of the game, a two-run shot. UNLV kept coming, scoring twice more in the sixth, only for Ackerman to step up again with a solo homer, the Lions' fifth of the game. The Lions would add two more in the sixth to wrap up the win.

Overshadowed by the homer frenzy was the performance of senior Tiffany Pagano, who registered a career-high 14 strikeouts. The two-time reigning PCSC Pitcher of the Week, Pagano improved to 13-4, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and four walks.

Pagnini finished game two 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored. Tysdal was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a pair of runs to give her six RBI on the day. Ackerman went 2-for-3 with three RBI in game two, driving in five total.

LMU looks to keep the power drive alive Thursday, hosting New Mexico State in a noon double header.