Feb. 13, 2010

Box Score

Las Vegas, Nev. - Another day, another split, and more extra innings for LMU as the Lions went 1-1 on day two of the Sportco Kick-Off Classic Las Vegas, Nev. The Lions (2-2) opened the day with a 4-3, 8-inning win over Long Beach State before dropping an 8-0, 5-inning decision to Illinois.

After needing eight innings against UC Davis and nine innings against Kent State in their games on Friday, the Lions made it three straight extra-inning affairs against Long Beach State, who was playing its season opener.

The Lions got on the board first as sophomore Sam Fischer, coming off a four-RBI performance Friday against Kent State, singled home senior J.J. Hartung to stake the Lions to a 1-0 lead in the first. Back-to-back doubles by senior Christine Foley and junior Priscilla Satete doubled LMU's lead in the fourth.

LBSU would strike back with a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to take the lead. Ashley Levine cut LMU's lead in half with an RBI double in the fourth before Nalani St. Germain's two-run homer in the fifth put the 49ers on top.

LMU immediately struck back in the top of the sixth as Fischer led off with a walk, coming home on sophomore Kelly Sarginson's double. LBSU looked to rally off sophomore Corie Goodman in the bottom of the frame when Chrstina Schallig doubled to open the frame. But senior Darcy Pagnini threw out pinch-runner Casey Burba to eliminate the scoring threat and the score would remain knotted at three as the game went into extra frames.

The Lions were the recipients of a fortuitous error that cost the 49ers the game in the eighth. With the international tie-breaker in effect, Hartung was placed on second and immediately sacrificed to third by junior Amy Charpentier. That brought up Pagnini, who lifted a pop-up to short, but Levine couldn't snare it and Hartung scampered home for the go-ahead run. Goodman then set the 49ers down in the bottom for the win.

Hartung paced the Lion attack by going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Goodman (1-0) gained the win by scattering eight hits and three runs over eight innings while striking out four and walking one.

The fatigue of having played 25 innings in less than 24 hours took its toll on the Lions as they had no response for the Fighting Illini (3-0). LMU did itself no favors, committing three errors in the top of the first inning that led to four Illinois runs.

After Illinois tacked on another run in the second, LMU loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning with two singles and a walk. But sophomore Brittany Pereda was forced out at the plate and Hartung grounded out to end LMU's best scoring chance. Illinois added two in the fourth and one in the fifth to end the contest.

Fischer extended her hitting streak to four games with a 1-for-3 game as Illinois pitcher Ashley Wright scattered six hits. Freshman Molly Medeiros (0-1) took the loss in her first career start, allowing seven runs (four earned) on six hits in four innings.

The Lions close out the weekend on Sunday at 4 p.m. against hosts UNLV.