Feb. 11, 2002

Box Score

Long Beach, Calif., - The Loyola Marymount University Lions softball team defeated the University of California Riverside Highlanders, 1-0, Sunday in the final game of Long Beach State Invitational Tournament at Lisa Fernandez Field at Mayfair Park.

Sophomore Sami Strinz (2-0), making her first start of the year, earned the win with a four-hit shutout. Strinz only allowed one hit after the second inning, retiring 17 of the last 19 batters she faced.

Strinz also set up the game's only run by walking to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman Lauren Hiramoto, pinch running for Strinz, took second base on a sacrifice bunt by freshman first baseman Emily Foltz. With two outs, Hiramoto scored on a single to left field by freshman leftfielder Ashley Hunt.

In the day's first game, the Lions lost to the host 49ers, 2-1. Long Beach State scored unearned runs in the second and fifth innings, overcoming the Lions' lone run in the fifth.

Losing pitcher senior Corianne Rogalsky (2-4) led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a walk. Junior Sarah Schaub, pinch running for Rogalsky, took second on a wild pitch and scored on freshman second baseman Casie Phillips' double past the diving centerfielder.

The Lions (5-6) finished the tournament with a record of 2-4, splitting two games with Long Beach State and UC Riverside and losing both games to the University of Arkansas.

LMU pitching was strong throughout the tournament with Strinz, Rogalsky and senior Jennifer Heliotes combining for an earned run average of 0.95. In addition to Sunday's win, Strinz recorded a save in the Lions' win against Long Beach State Saturday.

Senior centerfielder Christy Cerecedes and freshman shortstop Jessica Grassi led the Lions' offense with five hits each.

LMU softball resumes play Friday, at the Campbell-Cartier Tournament in Poway, California, hosted by San Diego State University. The Lions open the tournament against the No. 11-ranked University of Michigan Wolverines.