Feb. 10, 2003
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Briefly
The Loyola Marymount University softball team went 1-3 at the Long Beach State Invitational last weekend. The Lions pulled off some late inning heroics to win their first game of the season, 3-2, over Long Beach State. LMU then fell to UC Riverside, 5-0, and LBSU, 4-2, on the final day of the tournament. The Lions also dropped two exhibition games against the Canadian National Team, 7-0 and 2-1.
Up Next
The Lions open their home schedule with a double-header against UC Riverside on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. LMU then heads south this weekend to compete in the Campbell/Cartier Classic hosted by San Diego State. The tournament takes place this Fri-Sun, Feb.14-16 in San Diego, CA.
The Pacific Coast Softball Conference - A League Of Their Own
The NCAA Division I Management Council Administrative Committee announced the approval of the Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC) for Division I conference membership in women's softball on October 17, 2002. The inaugural season of PCSC softball is slated to begin on April 5, 2003. Wendy Guthrie, former Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at the University of San Diego and current professor in the Sport Management Masters program at the University of San Francisco, will serve as Commissioner of the new conference. Dr. Bill Husak, Director of Athletics at Loyola Marymount University, has taken on the role of President of the Conference Officers. The conference is comprised of six schools: California State University- Sacramento, Loyola Marymount University, Portland State University, Saint Mary's College of California, Santa Clara University, and the University of San Diego. Prior to joining the PCSC, the schools were members of the Western Athletic Conference, Western Intercollegiate Softball League, and Big West Conference for softball league play. Sacramento State and Loyola Marymount have been selected by the PCSC Coaches as the preseason favorites to finish first in the 2003 Pacific Coast Softball Conference standings. Sacramento State finished the 2002 season 18-33 overall and 7-17 in Big West Conference play. The Hornets went on to finish their fall season with a record of 7-0, including two victories over defending national champion California. After falling to Santa Clara in the Western Intercollegiate Softball League title game, Loyola Marymount ended its 2002 season with a record of 38-34. The Lions won 16 of their final 20 contests and earned a ranking of No. 8 in the West Region. Portland State earned the third spot in the preseason poll. The Vikings enter the PCSC following an 11-13 run in the Western Athletic Conference. Portland State's 11 conference wins were the most since the team joined the WAC in 2000. The Vikings finished 22-35 overall. Santa Clara was picked to finish fourth in the poll, followed by St. Mary's and San Diego.
Good 'Ole Grassi
Sophomore Jessica Grassi is one of four Lions to have tallied a team-leading four hits so far this season. Grassi, who has started in four of LMU's six games, leads the squad with a .400 batting average going 4-for-10 on the year. The 5-foot-0 infielder has scored two runs and belted one double so far.
Rookie Off To A Fast Start
Freshman Brittany Bassett is off to a fast start to her LMU career. Bassett has been the Lions' starting shortstop in all six games this season. She is third among Lions with two hits on the year. Bassett has driven in two RBI, scored two runs and belted one of LMU's two triples. She is the only freshman to play in all six games.
The Long Ball
Sophomore Danielle Kaminaka has picked up right where she left off last season. After setting a new single-season home run record (9) in her first year of collegiate softball, Kaminaka is now also the career leader as well. In the Lions' second game of the young 2003 season, Kaminaka belted her 10th career dinger. She is now tied with teammate Sami Strinz for the career home runs title. Strinz, a junior, hit two home runs as a freshman and eight as sophmore last year. Should she again improve her home run output this season, it will be a fight to the finish between Strinz and Kaminaka for the title of LMU's all-time home run hitter.
Weekend Recap
2/7/03 vs. Canada
The Lions dropped a 7-0 decision to the Canadian National Team in an exhibition last Friday night at the Long Beach State Invitational. The Lions kept the Canadians scoreless through four innings with Sami Strinz giving up only three hits. Freshman Krystal Kehr came on in relief giving up four runs in 1.1 innings pitched. Fellow rookie Samantha Lavino stepped in to throw the final 2/3 of the sixth inning. Sigurson led Team Canada on the mound throwing all seven innings and striking out seven. LF Lisa Abbott led LMU going 2-for-2 on the night. 3B Danielle Kaminaka and SS Brittany Bassett each tallied one hit rounding out the Lions' batting effort.
2/8/03 at Long Beach State
LMU recorded its first win of the season with a 3-2 victory over Long Beach State at the Long Beach State Tournament last Saturday. Sami Strinz picked up the win on the mound for the Lions. LMU fell behind early as the 49ers went on the board first in the second inning. LBSU extended its lead to 2-0 after five innings; Thorp and Farnworth each scored for the 49ers. The Lions came back though and pulled off a thrilling last minute comeback scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Trisha Gomes started things off with a single followed by Jessica Grassi's double which advanced Gomes to third. With one out, Brittany Bassett belted a two-run triple scoring Gomes and Grassi. Bassett came around to score the game-winning run on a single by Lisa Abbott. Krystal Kehr started the game on the hill for LMU. Kehr pitched 2.0 innings, allowed four hits and struck out two batters. Strinz came on in relief to throw 5.0 innings. She also struck out two while allowing seven hits and one earned run.
2/9/03 vs. UC Riverside/Long Beach St.
The Lions dropped their final two games at the Long Beach State Invitational, falling to UC Riverside, 5-0, and host Long Beach State, 4-2. Sami Strinz tallied two hits on the day for LMU while also driving in a run. The Lions were held to just two hits and were shutout by the UC Riverside Highlanders. Strinz and Tara Sheehan were the only successful Lions at the plate each collecting one hit. Strinz' double in the in the fourth inning marked LMU's first hit of the day. Sheehan belted a single in the sixth for her first hit in a Lion uniform. Strinz picked up the loss against the Highlanders while Dillon earned the win for UCR. Both pitchers threw a complete game. LMU fell to Long Beach State in its second game of the day. The Lions jumped out to a 2-0 lead after half an inning as Jessica Grassi and Danielle Kaminaka came around to score. Strinz and Emily Foltz picked up RBIs with their one hits in the contest. The 49ers tied things 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning and added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to record the win. Samantha Lavino gave up all four runs for LMU. Lavino pitched a complete game while striking out three and picking up the loss. Knoff earned the win for LBSU.
Highlights On The Highlanders
UC Riverside comes to LMU with a 1-3 overall record, its only win coming last weekend, 5-0, against the Lions. As a team, UCR is hitting .223. Kristen Hernandez is tied with teammate Allison Solis for the squad lead batting .500 on the year. Hernandez' four hits also leads the Highlanders. Under the direction of Head Coach Gary Ferrin LMU owns a 7-4 all-time record against UCR.
Head Coach Gary Ferrin
LMU's all-time winningest coach enters his ninth season with the Lions' program. His all-time coaching record stands at 292-246-1, which includes five straight 30-plus win seasons. He was honored in 2000 as the WAC Coach of the Year and has had just two years in which the Lions have finished below .500.
