March 30, 2005

Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The LMU softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with UC Riverside on Wednesday at Amy S. Harrison Field. LMU won the first game 3-0 before the Highlanders bounced back with a 5-2 victory in game two. The Lions have an 18-12 record heading into their PCSC opener on Saturday.

Kirsten Whitt and Kayla Meeks each hit solo home runs in the first game to give LMU all the runs it would need. Whitt's solo shot in the third opened the scoring and Meeks helped her own cause with her own blast in the fifth. The Lions added another run in the sixth as Meeks (8-2) and Tiffany Pagano combined on a four-hitter. Sara Radabaugh (5-15) took the loss for UCR, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits in 5 2/3 innings.

UCR (11-25) answered with a 5-2 win in the second game. The Highlanders scored three times in the third thanks to two Lion errors and heads-up baserunning. April Murray led off the inning against Samantha Lavino with a single then advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Jamie Yee walked and Pagano replaced Lavino on the mound. Yee stole second and, after Jessica Black struck out, Melissa Sanchez delivered a two-run double to centerfield. Sanchez then stole third and came home when shortstop Brittany Bassett bobbled Eliizabeth Buck's grounder.

The Highlanders added to their lead with two more runs in the fifth. Black and Sanchez opened with singles and moved into scoring position on Buck's sacrifice bunt. A passed ball brought Black home before Dani Bishop singled through the right side to make it 5-0.

LMU answered with two runs in the top of the sixth on a home run by Bassett and RBI double by Megan Julian but would not score again. Danira Iolamo improved to 2-0, throwing 5 2/3 innings of four-hit ball. Lavino suffered the loss for LMU.

The Lions open PCSC play this weekend, hosting Portland State in a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. Both doubleheaders start at noon.