March 19, 2009

Complete Release in PDF Format

Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, March 21
LMU (11-19) vs. North Dakota (2-13) - 12:00 p.m. (DH)

Briefly
Mired in its longest losing streak since 2002, LMU looks to get back on track with a Saturday doubleheader against North Dakota at noon on Smith Field. The Lions have dropped their last six games, including three by a single run and will be playing their final home series before starting Pacific Coast Softball Conference play next month.

Follow The Lions Live On The Web!
All LMU home games will be available for fans on Gametracker through the LMU website at www.LMULions.com. Select road contests can also be followed on Gametracker. Notice will be given for these games.

Last Week Recap: Sunshine State Rains on LMU Parade
Playing in its sixth and final tournament of the season last weekend at the USF-Under Armour Showcase in Clearwater, Florida, the Lions found themselves in an unfamiliar position, coming away from the weekend winless for the first time in nearly two years. Things might have been different with a couple fortuitous bounces on Friday, as the Lions dropped their two opening games 2-1 to Jacksonville and 8-7 in eight innings to South Florida. LMU led USF 7-6 entering the bottom of the seventh but the Bulls tied it up in their last at-bat, then won it in extras. The next day, the bats were quiet as LMU was blanked 7-0 by #21 Massachusetts and 1-0 by Central Michigan. Looking to salvage the weekend, LMU's defense let it down, committing seven errors in Sunday losses to Hofstra (8-2) and Indiana (4-2)

About the North Dakota Fighting Sioux (2-13)
North Dakota is on a 12-game West Coast road trip, having visited Cal State Bakersfield, Point Loma Nazarene, and Cal Baptist earlier this week. The Fighting Sioux play at San Diego on Thursday before closing the trip with Saturday's doubleheader at LMU. UND took one of four over the weekend at Bakersfield, winning 2-1 on Sunday behind Shelly Wolf's complete game. The Fighting Sioux then dropped both ends of the doubleheader Monday at Point Loma Nazarene. Former LMU standout Sami Strinz is now in her second season as North Dakota's head coach, having led them to a 19-34 record last year. The Lions and Fighting Sioux met for the first time last year, playing three games at Smith Field. The Lions won all three by scores of 7-0, 15-2, and 4-0.

Offense Doing Well
Despite its losing record and a .258 team batting average, LMU still leads the PCSC in several offensive categories. The Lions have the most runs scored (107), hits (201), doubles (34), and home runs (21) of any conference team.

Defensive Woes
Many of LMU's struggles this year can be attributed to the defensive side of the ball. The Lions have committed 54 errors in 30 games, an average of 1.8 per game. Of late, though, the Lions have been even more error-prone, recording three or more errors in each of the last five games. To put that into perspective, LMU committed a mere 55 errors in all of last season and has not had more than 80 errors in a year since 2002. Since errors only hurt when they lead to runs, this would all be fine if LMU gets away with it. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Of the 144 runs that LMU has given up this year, 41 have been unearned.

The Wrong Half-Dozen
With its current six-game losing streak, LMU finds itself in uncharted territory. The Lions have not lost six games in a row since dropping seven straight from March 8-18, 2002. In fact, until this season, LMU had not lost four consecutive games in the same season since being swept by Portland State on the final weekend of the 2006 season. That was also the last time that LMU had gone 0-fer in a weekend.

New Ace in Town
Without a doubt, LMU's success in 2009 will rely on its pitching. Three-time PCSC Pitcher of the Year Tiffany Pagano is gone but the Lions still have a formidable front-line starter in junior Melissa Dykema. She didn't disappoint in the opening weekend, going 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA in two appearances. The 2007 PCSC Co-Freshman of the Year, Dykema was 41-14 over her first two collegiate seasons and continues her climb up several LMU career top-10 lists. She is already among the leaders in strikeouts (third), complete games (fourth), shutouts (fourth), wins (fourth), innings pitched (fourth), appearances (fifth), and games started (ninth). So far in 2009, her five wins are the third-most in the PCSC while she leads the conference in innings pitched (98.0).

Chelsie Crushes
After setting a new LMU single-season record with 50 RBI and being named Second Team All-Pacific Region, it would be tough for senior Chelsie Tysdal to produce an encore. Yet, with consistent hitters setting the table in front of her and big boppers behind her, she did just that in Utah, hitting three home runs in the five games. All told, Tysdal went deep in four straight games between the final three in Utah and the home opener. She is tied for the team lead with four home runs to go along with 15 RBI (tied for second in the conference) and a .291 average, second-best among Lions. Her 23 career home runs are tied for third all-time at LMU. Against Drake, Tysdal became just the fifth player in LMU history to top 100 career RBI and she could challenge the career mark of 149.
On the heels of her 3-HR, 5-RBI weekend in Utah, Tysdal was named the Pacific Coast Softball Conference co-Player of the Week for the first week of the season. The award is the third of Tysdal's career after she was honored twice last year. Tysdal hit .333 (5-for-15) in LMU's five games over the weekend, hitting safely in the final four contests and homering in each of the last three.

Sam of All Trades
Freshman Sam Fischer has shown that she can do it all. Fischer leads the Lions in batting average, hits, and runs scored at .326, 31, and 18, respectively, the latter two of which also are tops in the PCSC. She is indeed a five-tool player as she has displayed her ability to hit for average and power (six doubles, four home runs, both of which lead LMU), steal bases (a team-high three in five attempts), and field. But it's not just her bat that is impressive. Fischer has also made four appearances at pitcher, posting a team-low 2.15 ERA. Although she has yet to register a win, she picked up her first career save on March 8 against Seattle.
Fischer garnered her first career Pacific Coast Softball Conference Player of the Week honor on March 10, leading LMU with a .462 (6-for-13) batting average with two home runs and four RBI in four games at the Courtyard by Marriott L.A. Westside Tournament. Fisher recorded at least one hit in three of the four games and reached base safely in all four games, posting a .923 slugging pct. and a .500 on-base average. In her first career start as a pitcher last Friday against Utah Valley, Fischer helped herself at the plate going 3-for-4 with her first career two-homer game and four RBI despite suffering a 6-5 loss. The next day, she went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored in a 5-3 win over future-PCSC member Seattle. Fischer capped the week with a relief appearance in the circle, picking up a save in LMU's second win over Seattle.

She's Good, Man
Freshman Corie Goodman has been a workhorse so far, appearing in 17 of LMU's first 20 games and figuring in 16 decisions thanks to a 6-9 record and one save. Her 3.42 ERA is a little inflated due to her being on the mound against some of LMU's tougher competition but she has made up for it by leading the team in strikeouts (56) and complete games (7). Her six wins on the year are second in the conference, as are her 56 strikeouts.
Goodman was outstanding at the Cathedral City Classic, going 2-1 with a 1.53 ERA to win her first career PCSC Pitcher of the Week award. In that tournament, she recorded a PCSC season-high 10 strikeouts in the victory over Tennessee Tech. She is the second LMU player to be recognized by the conference this season, joining senior Chelsie Tysdal, who was the co-Player of the Week for February 2-8.

Leadoff Leader
The most consistent player over her first two seasons (.328 average both years) before breaking out with a .361 average last year, senior Kirsten Slouber is the engine that keeps the Lions going. LMU's leadoff hitter and centerfielder, Slouber has been named First Team All-PCSC each of the last two seasons and led the conference in hits last year with 76. Now a senior, Slouber regained her power stroke at the Red Desert Classic, hitting two homers to move into the LMU career top-10 with 14. She is currently third on the squad with 23 hits, giving her 230 for her career and leaving her 22 shy of the all-time record. Slouber's name appears on no fewer than eight LMU top-10 lists. Her .334 career batting average ranks fifth while she is second in hits and third in runs scored, both categories in which she could reach the top spot. She is also fourth in doubles, fifth in at bats, sixth in stolen bases, ninth in slugging percentage, and 10th in both home runs and RBI.

Mega Masher
One of the reasons for Tysdal's success has been the presence of senior Megan Ackerman behind her. Ackerman has hit nine home runs in each of the last two seasons and is tied for third all-time at LMU with 23 after hitting four so far in 2009. After driving in 39 runs as a sophomore, Ackerman got off to a slow start in 2008 before coming on strong and finishing with 28. She hit her first homer of 2009 vs. Tennessee Tech and leads the team with 15 RBI and nine walks.

New Position, Same Results?
The breakout player of last year was far and away J.J. Hartung. As a freshman, Hartung hit .200 in just 40 at-bats and was used primarily as a pinch-runner. Last year, she was LMU's starting third baseman and led the PCSC with a .405 average, the third-highest in school history. This year, she got off to another strong start, hitting .455 through the season's first five games and is currently fourth on the team at .282.

Across the Way
One person who can give pointers to Hartung about making the move from the infield to the outfield is senior MiaSarah Cesena. The Lions' starting leftfielder each of the last two years, Cesena began her career as a shortstop before making the switch. She seems to have adjusted fine to the change, improving her offensive and defensive numbers every year. A career .254 hitter entering last year, Cesena hit a personal-best .301 out of the nine hole while adding a career-high 25 RBI. This year, she showed some unexpected pop in her bat in Utah, recording her first career two-homer game with a pair of solo shots in the win over Utah Valley. That's after hitting just two round-trippers in the last two seasons combined. She hit .400 at the Cathedral City Classic and leads the Lions with four sacrifice bunts.

Dangerous Darcy
One of LMU's most versatile players, it is hard to predict where junior Darcy Pagnini will start the game but you can be assured that she will be in the lineup. After redshirting the 2006 season due to injury, Pagnini played in 54 games last year at catcher, designated player, third base, and first base. This year, she has again appeared at multiple positions, having started games at those four different spots. Pagnini set a new LMU single season record with 18 doubles last year while hitting .296 with six homers and 20 RBI. So far this year, she has four doubles and two home runs while driving in 11 runs.

Sargin Slaughter
Kelly Sarginson can't say much for her first six games of collegiate softball, having made just two pinch-hit appearances and going 0-for-2. She made her first career start on February 14 against Seattle and popped up in her first at-bat. Since then, however, she has made sure that people know her name, sitting third on the team with a .284 average. Sarginson finished 2-for-4 in her first game against Seattle, knocking in the winning run with an eighth-inning single. She followed that with a 2-for-3 game against UIC in which she drove in three and then had another RBI in the second game against Seattle. Sarginson hit her first career home run against South Florida, finishing that game 3-for-4 with three RBI. She is tied for second on the team with four doubles and is third on the squad with 14 RBI.

Introducing Brittany Pereda
With one career at-bat to her name entering the Courtyard by Marriott L.A. Westside Tournament, freshman Brittany Pereda made her first career start against Utah Valley and proceeded to hit her first career homer in just her second at-bat. She finished that game 1-for-3 and went on to go 1-for-2 with a walk and a double against Seattle. Having now started six games, Pereda is slugging .500.

Runners Know their Role
And that's to make it home. Together, freshmen Katrina Bodewig and Kylie Ahlo have just 12 plate appearances between them but they have combined to score 16 runs. Primarily used as pinch-runners for Pagnini and Tysdal, the freshmen speedsters give the Lions an added dimension on the basepaths.

Ferrin Reaches 500
Already the most successful coach in LMU softball history, Gary Ferrin notched another personal milestone last season as he recorded his 500th career victory. Now in his 15th season, Ferrin has led the Lions to winning campaigns 12 times, including 40+ wins three times and 30+ victories 11 times. They have won three PCSC titles under Ferrin and made two NCAA postseason appearances. A list of Ferrin's milestone victories:
#1 - February 19, 1994; 2-0 vs. Santa Clara
#100 - April 13, 1997; 1-0 vs. Santa Clara
#200 - April 8, 2000; 3-0 vs. San Diego
#300 - March 26, 2003; 8-2 at UC Riverside
#400 - March 8, 2006; 3-1 vs. Mercer
#500 - May 3, 2008; 5-3 at Saint Mary's

Utah Yards Can't Contain Lions
As a team, LMU has always displayed respectable power numbers, hitting 30 or more home runs in each of the last seven seasons. This year, they got off to a torrid start after the opening weekend in Utah saw them hit 10 round-trippers in five games. Take away the opening game shutout to BYU and all of the Lions' long-balls came in a 26-inning span. Additionally, the 10 home runs came from five different players. Senior Chelsie Tysdal led the way with three, senior MiaSarah Cesena and juniors Darcy Pagnini and Christine Foley each had two, and sophomore Amy Charpentier had one - that being her first career grand slam against Utah.
LMU is again on pace for 30+ home runs, currently leading the PCSC with 21.

PCSC Coaches Pick LMU Second
The Pacific Coast Softball Conference coaches have tabbed LMU to finish second in 2009, according to the preseason coaches poll. The six PCSC coaches voted defending champions Sacramento State first, edging LMU by two points. Both LMU and Sacramento State received two first-place votes each. Portland State and Santa Clara each received the remaining first-place votes. Sacramento State garnered 31 total points, with LMU right behind on 29. Saint Mary's was picked third with 21 points, with Portland State fourth with 20. San Diego (14 points) and Santa Clara (11) round out the poll.

PCSC to Expand in 2010
A six-team conference since its inception in 2003, the Pacific Coast Softball Conference will double its members starting in the 2010 season as it expands to 12 teams and separates into two divisions. The original membership of LMU, Portland State, Sacramento State, Saint Mary's, San Diego, and Santa Clara will be joined next year by Cal State Bakersfield, Idaho State, Northern Colorado, Seattle, Utah Valley, and Weber State. The conference will be split into two six-team divisions, with the six California-based schools making up the Coastal Division and the remaining six teams comprising the Mountain Division. The expansion will form the largest conference in the nation, equaling the lineups of the Atlantic Sun, Big East, MEAC, and Mid-American Conferences, all of which contain 12 teams.

Odd Year Trend
LMU has won the Pacific Coast Softball Conference title three times since its inception in 2003. Oddly enough, each of those championships has come in an odd-numbered year - 2003, 2005, and 2007. LMU's only two NCAA postseason appearances have also come in the last two odd-numbered years. Now we find ourselves in 2009 and the final year of the PCSC with its current lineup. Will the trend continue? Only time will tell.