March 14, 2009
UMass Box Score
Central Michigan Box Score
Clearwater, FL - LMU found itself on the wrong end of a pair of shutouts on Saturday, falling 7-0 to 21st-ranked Massachusetts and 1-0 to Central Michigan at the USF-Under Armour Showcase in Clearwater, FL. The Lions (11-17) have now lost four in a row, including three by a single run.
Facing their third ranked opponent of the season in UMass (10-5), the Lions could not match the power of the 21st-ranked Minutewomen, who used four home runs to down LMU. Davina Hernandez got things going with a solo home run to lead off the third and UMass took advantage of two Lion errors in the inning to tack on three more runs to take a 4-0 lead.
The Lions looked to have something going in the fourth inning when junior Darcy Pagnini reached on an error, senior Chelsie Tysdal singles, and freshman Kelly Sarginson walked to load the bases with no outs. But Brandice Balschmiter worked her way out of the jam and the Lions would register just one baserunner the rest of the way. UMass put the game out of reach with three solo home runs in the seventh, including back-to-back jobs by Sarah Reeves and Whitney Williams.
Balschmiter (9-3) finished eight strikeouts in the three-hitter, with two of the Lions' hits coming off the bat of freshman Sam Fischer. Junior Melissa Dykema took the loss for LMU to drop to 5-7. Dykema lasted three innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on three hits. Freshman Corie Goodman pitched the last four innings, allowing three runs on six hits.
The story of game two was missed opportunities as the teams combined to leave 18 runners on base. Dykema and Goodman combined on an eight-hitter against Central Michigan, leaving 11 runners on base. However, LMU hitters weren't much more successful against Ali Pettit, who limited the Lions to seven hits.
After Dykema stranded runners on first and third in the first, Fischer was left on second in the LMU half after a one-out double. That led to CMU's breakthrough run in the second. Again, an LMU error opened the door for the Chippewas. Amanda Klosterman led off the inning with a single, then moved to third on a throwing error by sophomore first baseman Christine Foley. Kim Cozat followed with a single to bring home Klosterman with the game's only run.
LMU's best chance to pull level came in the sixth inning when a Fischer double and Sarginson single put runners on first and third with no outs. Pettit worked her way out of the situation with an infield groundout and consecutive strikeouts of Pagnini and Foley. The Lions also made noise in the seventh when sophomore Jennifer Nayudu delivered a pinch-hit one-out single, advancing to second on a groundout. Down to its last out, LMU would come away empty when senior Kirsten Slouber grounded out to third to end the game.
Fischer again finished 2-for-3 to lead the Lion offense. Dykema (5-8) allowed six hits over 4 1/3 innings but took the loss after giving up the game's only run. Goodman finished it off with 2 2/3 innings of two-hit ball.
LMU completes the tournament on Sunday, starting at 10 a.m. against Hofstra. The Lions added a game to the schedule late and will take on Indiana at noon before heading back to California.
- GO LIONS -
