April 6, 2008

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Los Angeles, CA - Santa Clara continued its inspired play, coming from behind twice to stun LMU Sunday with victories of 6-3 and 6-2 in a Pacific Coast Conference double header at Smith Field. The Lions (25-14, 1-3 PCSC) close out their 21-game home stand by dropping one of four against the Broncos (7-34, 3-1 PCSC).

For the second day in a row, Santa Clara came from behind in the first game of the double header to stun the Lions. Playing as the designated visiting team, LMU jumped on top 1-0 in the first on junior Chelsie Tysdal's RBI groundout that brought home freshman Amy Charpentier, who had singled earlier. The Broncos came back, however, pushing two runs across in the second on Jackie Nicora's two-run double off sophomore Melissa Dykema. They added a third run in the third, loading the bases on a single, fielder's choice, and walk for Ashley Blier's two-out single up the middle that made it 3-1.

After loading the bases in the third but coming away with nothing, the Lions pulled a run back in the fifth on Tysdal's run-scoring double. Dykema lasted a shade over three innings before getting knocked out after allowing three runs on six hits. Senior Tiffany Pagano came on in relief and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth.

The Lions came back to tie it in the top of the sixth. Junior Megan Ackerman led off with a single to center to knock SCU starter Kaitlyn Rauschnot from the game. Pinch-hitting freshman Jennifer Nayudu then delivered her first career hit, a single to right that pushed Ackerman to third. She would come home with the tying run on sophomore J.J. Hartung's groundout to short. Junior MiaSarah Cesena kept the inning alive with a single that put runners on first and third with one out but Bronco reliever Jackie Morales stranded the runners by inducing a pop-up and strikeout from the top of the Lion order to end the inning.

Just as soon as the game was tied, the Broncos reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the frame. Ashley Grove singled with one out and went to second when Noelani Ho'opi'i walked. Amanda Edmonson then sent a grounder up the middle that Ackerman knocked down. Grove never stopped running, beating the throw home for a 4-3 lead. Both runners moved up to second and third on the play. Pagano walked Maggie Godfrey to load the bases but struck out Breann Netto for out number two. Blier then delivered the dagger blow, scooting a two-strike single through the right side that plated two for a 6-3 Bronco advantage.

Morales (4-12) retired the heart of the LMU lineup in order in the seventh to close out the win. She tossed two innings of two-hit relief for Rauschnot, who allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in five innings.Grove, Blier, and Nicora all had two hits for the Broncos, with Blier driving in three.

Pagano (15-6) took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks. She struck out four in three innings but saw her streak of 11 consecutive PCSC wins and 43 straight scoreless conference innings at home come to an end. Charpentier led the Lion offense with a 2-for-3 outing with a run scored.

As she has so many times this season, Tysdal put the Lions on top to open game two with a two-run homer to left. It was her team-leading 10th home run of the season and 18th of her career, tying her for fifth place on both the single-season and career record lists at LMU.

Jeanine Ruffoni cut the Lion lead in half with a lead-off homer to center in the bottom of the first but the Broncos were not done, batting around in the frame. An error by Hartung and single by Ho'opi'i kept the Santa Clara inning going for Morales, who squibbed a single to short to make it 2-2. A walk to Blier loaded the bases and again the Lion defense faltered. Netto lifted a high fly ball to center but Slouber dropped it, allowing two more runs to come home for a 4-2 Bronco lead.

The Lions almost regained the lead in the top of the second when freshman Priscilla Satete crushed a long ball to left but Nicora made the defensive play of the game, reaching over the fence to pull back what would have been a three-run homer. Slouber followed with another long fly to left but Nicora again tracked it down to strand a pair of Lion runners.

Edmonson increased the Bronco advantage with an opposite-field, two-out solo homer in the second. The Lions put runners on second and third with one out in the third but could not add to their total. That would be the last chance for LMU as Morales retired the final 14 batters she faced. SCU added a run in the bottom of the fifth when pinch-hitter Jenna Fong's grounder to short took a bad hop away from Ackerman to score Godfrey from second.

Morales (5-12) allowed the two runs on five hits for the win while Ruffoni had two of the team's six hits.

Pagano (15-7) lost her second straight decision despite eight strikeouts. She gave up six runs (three earned) on six hits while walking three and hitting two. Tysdal was 2-for-3 with two RBI for the offense.

The Lions closed out their 21-game home stand with a 14-7 record. LMU takes to the road next week for the first time since March 2, traveling to Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and then to San Diego for a pair of double headers Saturday and Sunday.