April 6, 2003

Box Score

SANTA CLARA, CA - The Loyola Marymount University softball team recorded another split against the Santa Clara Broncos on Sunday afternoon. The Lions claimed a win in Game 1 of the doubleheader, 2-1, and then dropped Game 2, 3-0 to the Broncos.

The Lions' record remains even at 16-16/ 2-2 in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC). Santa Clara's overall record goes to 20-18 and 2-2 in the PCSC.

In accordance with PCSC rules, the Broncos were the visiting team for today's games. At the plate first to open the day, two of the first three Bronco batters reached base on balls, forcing LMU head coach Gary Ferrin to call time just eight minutes into the game. The Lions escaped the inning with two quick defensive plays.

With two outs on the board in the fourth, LMU took a 1-0 lead as designated player Sami Strinz swung at the first pitch thrown and sent it over the fence at centerfield. The home run was Strinz' sixth of the year. Jessica Grassi added another run with her solo homer to left in the fifth frame, both of Grassi's home runs this season have come against the Broncos.

LMU got the first hit of the game in the second inning, with a single down the left line by SS Brittany Bassett. A runner was also on second after the batter was hit by a pitch, putting runners in scoring position with one out on the board. SCU pitcher Jaime Forman-Lau got out of the jam striking out the side.

The Broncos were in scoring position in the third and fourth frames, in part to two Lion errors, but could not convert. Santa Clara's first hit of the day came from Tracie Hall in the fourth, whose double to centerfield hit the fence and just barely remained in play. She added another double in the sixth.

Santa Clara rallied in the top of the seventh, as Jenny Brown reached base on an error and Coresta Salas was hit by a pitch. Clee advanced both runners with her sacrifice hit. Lacey Smale followed with her sacrifice to score Brown. With the tying run on third base, Lion pitcher Samantha Lavino stuck out Hall to close out the contest and post her fourth win of the season. A stiff Lion defense stranded a total of 11 Bronco runners in the first game.

Forman-Lau's record in the circle moves to 13-9 with the loss. She added her second save of the season in the second contest.

The Broncos went on a run in the second game with eight total hits. Brown led SCU off with a double to right center, and was followed by Vanessa Werner's single. Brown took advantage of a wild pitch from LMU freshman pitcher Krystal Kehr to give Santa Clara the early lead.

Clee opened the fourth with a double down the leftfield line for the Broncos and was brought home by Hall three batters later to open a 2-0 lead.

Santa Clara extended the shutout by a 3-0 score with Kelley Johnson's home run. She sailed the pitch just fair in left field during the fifth inning.

LMU threatened in the bottom half of that frame, placing a runner on third with singles from outfielders Grassi and Lisa Abbott. With no outs in the sixth, the Lions put another runner on third, but could not convert.

Liz Courter earned the win for SCU and is now 7-6 on the year. Kehr took the loss and fell to 8-6 from the circle.

The Lions return to action at home on Tuesday, Apr. 8 in a makeup doubleheader against UC Riverside. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m at LMU Softball Field.