March 2, 2004

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

San Diego, Calif. - The Loyola Marymount softball team, who started the San Diego Tournament 2-1 with wins over UC Riverside, Southern Utah, and Fairfield last weekend, took two more on Sunday to claim the tournament title. Senior Sami Strinz hit .529 during the five-game tournament and picked up two wins from the pitcher's circle.

The Lions faced UC Riverside for the fourth time this season Sunday morning, getting the 11-6 win. The game remained scoreless through the third inning, until LMU broke the contest open with a five-run fourth inning. UCR did not threaten until the seventh, when the Highlanders posted five runs in their final chance. But LMU's two runs in the fifth and four in the sixth were enough to secure the 11-6 victory. As a team, the Lions hit .447 against the Highlanders. Strinz, Casie Phillips, and Brittany Bassett led LMU offensively, each going 2-for-3 from the plate. Strinz and Phillips each drove in one of the Lions' 11 runs, while Bassett posted 2 RBI. Samantha Lavino got the win for LMU, after striking out six in the complete game effort.

Now 3-1 in tournament action, the Lions next faced fellow Pacific Coast Softball Conference member San Diego, who was also 3-1 in tournament play. In what would be the championship game, LMU scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back, taking the title game 10-2 in six innings. Senior Trisha Gomes went 3-for-4 against USD, and Lisa Abbott and Strinz each recorded homeruns for the Lions. In addition to going 2-for-4 with three RBI at the plate, Strinz threw the complete game for LMU.

The Lions return home 11-5 and will take the week off before opening a 12-game homestand against Michigan State on Friday, March 12 at 12:00 noon. LMU will play its entire March schedule at the LMU Softball Field.

-GO LIONS-