April 9, 2011

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Video highlights and interviews from Lions' All-Access

LOS ANGELES - LMU opened up Pacific Coast Softball Conference play in winning fashion Saturday, sweeping defending conference champions Saint Mary's 8-5 and 5-4 on the opening day at Smith Field. Junior Kelly Sarginson drove in four runs in game one but it was freshman Meghan Harman's walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh that lifted the Lions (18-20, 2-0 PCSC) in game two against the Gaels (4-15, 0-2 PCSC).

The series had been slated as one of the best in the PCSC's opening weekend as it pitted the winningest program in conference history and the three-time champs in LMU against defending conference champs in the Gaels. Neither team disappointed. Although LMU came into the game leading the PCSC in home runs with 33 while the Gaels had just three on the year, Saint Mary's hit three on Saturday alone to keep themselves in the games. In the opener, LMU twice came from behind, scoring seven runs over its final two innings behind Sarginson's second straight four-RBI game to take over the PCSC lead. In game two, the Lions saw a 4-0 lead evaporate as Saint Mary's came storming back but the long ball gave the Lions the victory when Harman delivered the walk-off with one out in the seventh.

LMU 8, Saint Mary's 5
Sarginson drove in four runs for the second straight game and LMU scored seven times in the fifth and sixth innings to twice overcome deficits to win the PCSC opener. What was shaping up to be a pitcher's duel over the first 4 1/2 innings turned into an offensive explosion as the Lions rallied from being down 3-1 and 5-4.

Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth, the Lions still had some fight in them and stormed back one more time with a four-run inning. Freshman Kathryn Dutton led off with a single and freshman pinch-runner Samantha Nelson came in and was sacrificed to second. Sophomore Danielle Smith followed with her third single of the day, beating out a grounder to second that was then thrown away, allowing Nelson to motor home for the tying run. A single by senior Amy Charpentier marked the end of SMC starter Britany Linton's day and junior Sam Fischer met reliever Audrianna Solari with an RBI single through the right side, putting the Lions on top 6-5. Sarginson, who had singled home two runs earlier in the game, then added some insurance by driving a ball off the base of the wall in left-center for a two-run double.

Freshman Stevie Goldstein (3-5), who had come on in relief in the sixth, picked up the win with a 1-2-3 ninth, retiring all five batters she faced over the course of 1 2/3 innings. Sophomore Molly Medeiros had gotten the start, allowing five runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Smith recorded her fourth three-hit outing of the season, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Fischer and Sarginson each had two hits for the Lions and combined to drive in five of the eight runs as they continue to battle for the PCSC RBI lead.

LMU had taken an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Smith led off with a single. A groundout, illegal pitch, and wild pitch brought her home with the game's first run. The Gaels would strike right back with a run of their own in the top of the second when Michelle Mounts, who had singled earlier in the frame, scored all the way from first on Megan Smith's single into the right-centerfield gap. After stranding a pair of runners in the second, the Gaels took the lead with a pair of runs in the third. Amelia McIntosh and Tiffany Gonzales hit back-to-back singles and both came home when Mounts poked a two-out single to right.

Linton (4-5) had limited the Lions to just one hit over the first four innings but ran into trouble in the fifth. Sarginson, who has been clutch for the Lions all season, tied things up at three with a two-run single as LMU used a three-run fifth to battle back and take a 4-3 lead. Smith again was the catalyst, singling with one out and going to second on a wild pitch. After Charpentier walked, Fischer singled to load the bases for Sarginson, who leads the PCSC with 10 home runs and already has a pair of grand slams this season to her credit. Sarginson engaged in an epic eight-pitch at-bat against Linton before finding the hole up the middle with a two-run single. Two batters later, junior Kylie Ahlo hustled down the line to beat out an infield hit, enabling Fischer to come home with the go-ahead run.

The lead would again be short-lived, however, as Rebecca Sabatini and Megan Smith homered on back-to-back pitches to put the Gaels back in front 5-4 and knock Medeiros from the game. Yet the Lions had enough momentum to carry over into the sixth and rally for a second time for the win.

LMU 5, Saint Mary's 4
Harman's third career home run, and first walk-off, highlighted game two. As much as game one was about the production from LMU's upperclassmen, game two was about the freshmen, with Harman and Dutton combining to drive in four runs.

After seeing its 4-0 lead washed away and the go-ahead run stranded at third in the sixth with Fischer and Sarginson up, the Lions turned to Harman to provide the boost they needed. Following Dutton's leadoff groundout, Harman took a ball on the first pitch from Jessica Lemmon, then turned on the second pitch, launching it over the left-centerfield fence to give LMU the 5-4 win.

For the second straight game, the Lions went on top with a single run in the first. Walks to Smith and Fischer and an excuse-me infield single by Sarginson loaded the bases with one out. Dutton's bloop into right brought home Smith but Sarginson, who had gone only halfway as she was not sure if the ball would be caught or not, was thrown out at second and Lemmon escaped the inning with just a single run recorded against her.

A great defensive play by Gael third baseman Mandy Camuso kept the Lions from adding to their total in the second. An Ahlo walk and Smith single put runners on the corners with two outs. Charpentier then stung a liner that Camuso knocked down and chased after, throwing out Charpentier to end the inning.

A pair of Gael errors led to three LMU runs in the third. Following a Fischer leadoff walk, Sarginson surprised everyone by laying down a bunt, which Gael first baseman Maryanne Cronin booted away to put runners at second and third. Dutton brought them both home with a double into left-center. A third Lion run would come in when Lemmon overthrew first on a comebacker but another fine defensive play limited the damage as shortstop Brittany Sabatini's diving snare of Smith's liner left a pair of runners stranded in scoring position.

Goldstein cruised through the first four innings, allowing just two baserunners on a first-inning error and third-inning walk. Back-to-back one-out singles by Smith and Camuso broke up Goldstein's no-hit bid in the fifth but she worked out of a two-on, one-out jam by inducing a pair of groundouts.

SMC would tie the game in the sixth with a four-run outburst. A Brittany Sabatini leadoff single and Mounts double gave the Gaels runners on second and third with no outs for Cronin, who deposited a three-run homer over the centerfield fence to cut the deficit to 4-3 and knock Goldstein from the game. Sophomore Dana Waldusky came in but could not hold the lead, giving up singles to Rebecca Sabatini and Camuso, the latter of which tied the game at 4-all.

Both teams had their chances in their next at-bats as they each put a runner on third with the meat of the order coming up, only for the pitchers to leave them stranded. That led to Harman's dramatic at-bat, as she drove a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left-center for her first career walk-off.

Waldusky (6-5) gained the victory, allowing one unearned run on three hits in two innings. Goldstein had gone the first five, giving up three runs on five hits. Lemmon (0-5) took the loss with a complete-game six-hitter in which she walked six in allowing five runs (three earned).

The Lions and Gaels will return to Smith Field for a Sunday doubleheader starting at noon.