Feb. 17, 2004
Box Score
Los Angeles, Calif. - Loyola Marymount softball improved its home record to 4-0 with a program-first sweep of the University of Hawaii. The Lions (6-2) took game one 5-1 and scored in the bottom of the seventh to win game two 4-3.
In game one, LMU got on the scoreboard first, scoring two runs in the second inning. Tiffany Lawson pinch ran for Caylin Hornish, who got the Lions started with a double. Lawson scored on a double by Casie Phillips, and sophomore Brittany Bassett posted a RBI of her own, hitting Phillips in on a single.
LMU continued to perform at the plate in the third inning. After singling to left field, Lisa Abbott scored on a Sami Strinz RBI.
The Lions held Hawaii (5-8) scoreless through the fifth, when shortstop Ashley Ruff's home run posted Hawaii's only run.
LMU added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, when Emily Foltz hit a home run to score Phillips, who had singled to give the Lions their first baserunner of the inning.
Despite allowing two runs in the first inning of game two, pitcher Samantha Lavino and the Lions held Hawaii scoreless for the next four innings as the LMU offense went to work. Strinz led off the second inning for the Lions with a single and Lauren Hiramoto entered as a pinch runner. Phillips then hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Hiramoto.
The Lions took the 3-2 lead in the fourth when Strinz' home run scored pinch runner Lawson. But Hawaii tied the game in the sixth when Ruff's two-out single to left scored pinch runner Tara Harbert.
Phillips led off the bottom of the seventh for the Lions with a single to center field. Freshman Margo Pineda pinch ran for Phillips, advancing to second on Foltz' ground out to third. Pineda then took third on a wild pitch by Shannon Tabion, and scored on a Bassett sacrifice fly to left. With the run, the Lions took game two 4-3.
The Lions got two complete game efforts from their pitchers, with Strinz picking up the game one win. Strinz (4-2) allowed just one run on six hits while striking out four in seven innings of work. Lavino (2-0) recorded the game two win after giving up six hits and striking out five.
Phillips and Bassett led the Lions offensively, going 3-for-5 on the day.
The Lions will take on tough opponents at the Softball By the Beach Invitational, hosted by UC Santa Barbara Friday through Sunday. Tournament participants include Kansas, BYU, UC Riverside, Florida International, Central Florida, and California.
-GO LIONS-