April 6, 2011

Box Score

LOS ANGELES - Junior Kelly Sarginson hit a grand slam but sixth-ranked UCLA rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to thwart LMU's upset bid, 5-4, in the final non-conference road contest at Easton Stadium. The Lions (16-20) had trailed 3-0 before Sarginson's second grand slam of the season, only for the Bruins (27-5) to overcome the deficit for their eighth straight win overall and 12th in a row at home.

In the final tune-up before the start of Pacific Coast Softball Conference play, LMU once again showed it was capable of playing with the nation's best, putting on a defensive show to stay in the game early. The Lions recorded two outfield assists and flashed the leather on numerous occasions to frustrate the Bruins before taking the lead on Sarginson's one big swing.

In LMU's last trip to Easton Stadium at the 2007 NCAA Tournament, it was Megan Ackerman's grand slam that lifted the Lions' to their first-ever postseason win over UC Santa Barbara in 2007. This time, Sarginson's second grand slam and her 10th homer of the season turned a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 lead. Trailing 3-0 in the sixth, senior Jennifer Nayudu singled to left and juniors Kylie Ahlo and Sam Fischer drew back-to-back walks to load the bases with two outs. That brought up Sarginson, who sent reliever Aleah Macon's 1-0 pitch over the scoreboard in left to put the Lions ahead. It was her 23rd career home run, moving her into sole possession of sixth place on the LMU career list.

The upset would not to be, however, as the first five Bruins to bat in the seventh all reached to lift the home side to the walk-off win. Katie Schroeder started things off with a single off junior Corie Goodman (0-4). B.B. Bates fouled off two sacrifice bunt attempts, only to deliver her fourth hit of the game by singling up the middle to put two on with no outs. GiOnna DiSalvatore then brought home Schroeder with the tying run with a single up the middle, with both runners advancing on the throw. The winning run 60 feet away and no outs, LMU elected to intentionally walk Andrea Harrison to load the bases and create a force play. It looked to be the right move when Kellie Fox floated a soft liner to Fischer but the ball dropped in front of Fischer and skipped away, enabling Bates to scamper home for the win.

Sophomore Erica Grady got the start and finished with a no-decision after allowing two runs on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings. She was replaced by Goodman in the fourth and, despite a leadoff homer by Bates in the fifth, Goodman had a fine outing until the Bruins' final rally. She allowed three runs on five hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings.

Macon (2-0) got the win, alllowing fuor runs on two hits and three walks while striking out four in three innings. Starter Jessica Hall retired the first 11 batters she faced before Fischer broke up her perfect game in the fourth. She left in favor of Macon after four innings in which she allowed the one hit and struck out five.

UCLA jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on Andrea Harrison's two-out RBI single to drive in Bates, who had tripled for her first of four hits on the day. The Bruins added another in the third and could have had more if not for two great defensive plays by the Lions. The first came when Nayudu gunned down Bates at the plate from rightfield for the second out. After two more hits padded UCLA's lead, the Lions got out of the inning when Fischer was quick to react to a liner that had been knocked down by freshman third baseman Meghan Harman. Fischer ranged deep over to her right and behind the third base bag to pick the ball up and throw out Alyssa Tiumalu at first.

LMU's defense continued to be stellar into the fourth to help out its pitchers. Freshman leftfielder Samantha Nelson recorded the second outfield assist of the game by throwing out Samantha Camuso at second as she tried to stretch a single into a double. Then, with two outs and runners on first and third, freshman catcher Kathryn Dutton ended the inning when she caught Schroeder trying to steal second.

Bates increased UCLA's advantage to 3-0 with a leadoff home run in the fifth, only for Sarginson to snatch the lead back for the Lions in the following inning.

The Lions return home to open Pacific Coast Softball Conference play this weekend against defending conference champs Saint Mary's. The teams will play noon doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.