April 17, 2010

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Moraga, Calif. - The pendulum of momentum swung back against LMU as hosts Saint Mary's recorded a pair of one-run victories to sweep a doubleheader between previously unbeaten Pacific Coast Softball Conference schools on Saturday in Moraga. Three home runs from sophomore Sam Fischer were not enough for the Lions (17-17, 4-2 PCSC), who found themselves on the other end of the scoreline with the Gaels (18-15, 4-0 PCSC) winning 2-1 and 6-5.

For the second straight week, the opener featured a classic pitcher's duel as LMU senior Melissa Dykema and Kimberly Green of Saint Mary's both tossed three-hitters. The difference came in the fifth inning, however, when Rebecca Sabatini's two-out double broke a 1-1 tie and lifted the hosts to the victory.

SMC had taken the lead in the first on Jenna Smith's single but LMU struck back in the third on Fischer's team-leading ninth home run. That would be all of LMU's scoring as Green allowed singles to seniors J.J. Hartung and Darcy Pagnini.

Dykema (9-9) struck out a season-high seven but it was not enough for her 10th win of the season.

Fischer kept her power streak going with two more home runs in game two, her third multi-homer game of the year. Fischer's second of the game, a lead-off shot in the seventh, tied the game but Saint Mary's came back to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh, leading to former Lion Tiffany Gonzales to victimize her former teammates with a walk-off hit.

The Lions had taken the lead with a three-run third on Fischer's two-run homer and a run-scoring double by sophomore Kelly Sarginson. The Gaels struck right back in the bottom of the frame, however, pushing across four runs as an error by freshman pitcher Molly Medeiros prolonged the inning for Smith's three-run homer.

The teams traded runs in the fourth and sixth before Fischer's lead-off homer in the seventh tied the game. Yet, Dykema, who had come on in relief in the fifth, hit the first batter in the seventh and gave up a single to put the winning run in scoring position, after a sacrifice bunt and an intenational walk, Gonzalez delivered the knock-out blow with a single to left.

Dykema (9-10) suffered the loss by giving up a run on two hits in two innings. Medeiros had allowed five runs, albeit just one earned, on six hits in 4 1/3.

Pagnini had her first three-hit outing of the season with a trio of singles. Fischer added the two round-trippers and Sarginson also collected two hits.

The teams will battle again in a Sunday doubleheader starting at noon.