May 8, 2011

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Highlights and Post-game interviews from Lions' All-Access.

LOS ANGELES - LMU left no doubt as to the best team in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Coastal Division, closing out the regular season by taking both ends of a Sunday doubleheader to complete a four-game sweep of San Diego and claim the division title at Smith Field. Needing just one win to clinch the title, the Lions (32-25, 16-4 PCSC) crushed the Toreros (24-19, 14-6 PCSC) 12-0 in five innings in game one, then rode junior Kelly Sarginson's PCSC-record 17th and 18th home runs to a 5-4, eight-inning win in game two. The Lions will move on to the PCSC Championship Series May 13-14 at Portland State, with the winner of the three-game set claiming the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

LMU entered the weekend needing to take three of four from USD to overcome a two-game deficit in the standings and claim the division title. Following Saturday's pair of wins, one victory on Sunday would guarantee the Lions the championship by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker. Any doubts as to the Lions' mindset on Senior Day were put to rest as LMU scored nine runs in the fifth inning to support sophomore Molly Mederios' one-hitter. In game two, Sarginson posted her fourth multi-homer game of the season and broke teammate Sam Fischer's school- and conference-record of 16 home runs set last season but it was senior Priscilla Satete's RBI single in her final home game in the eighth inning that lifted the Lions to their third four-game sweep of the season.

LMU 12, San Diego 0 (5 inn.)
Sophomore Olivia Alvarez's weekend tear carried LMU to its first PCSC Coastal Division title. After going 3-for-6 and spurring Saturday's doubleheader sweep, Alvarez posted her fourth three-hit game of the season and drove in a career-high five runs. It was more than enough for Medeiros (16-7), who allowed just a second inning single by Celeste Soto in stifling the Toreros with a one-hitter.

A three-run third inning, with all the runs coming with two outs, got the Lions going on their way to the title. Sophomore Danielle Smith led off the inning with the first of her two hits and was sacrificed to second. After Fischer struck out for the second out, USD second baseman Jessica Tieszen couldn't handle Sarginson's grounder, with the error allowing Smith to race around from second for the game's first run. Consecutive walks to freshmen Meghan Harman and Kathryn Dutton loaded the bases for Alvarez, who made it 3-0 with a two-run single to right-center.

Any concerns about a USD comeback were squashed with LMU's nine-run fifth inning. Dutton opened the frame with a walk and back-to-back doubles by Alvarez and junior Kylie Ahlo increased the lead to 5-0. A pitching change did nothing to slow down the Lions as senior Jennifer Nayudu's single brought home Ahlo with the Lions' sixth run. Nayudu, in turn, came home on Smith's single to right but the biggest blow came two batters later when Fischer launched her 41st career home run, a two-run shot, to right. Following another pitching change, Harman singled with two outs and Dutton walked again to bring up Alvarez, who connected for a three-run homer, her fifth of the season, to complete the scoring.

All that was left was for Medeiros to close things out and she retired 10 of the game's final 11 batters, including a 1-2-3 fifth, to set off the Lions' celebration. Medeiros won her fifth straight decision by tossing her 17th complete game of the season, facing two batters over the minimum.

Alvarez's 3-for-4 performance led the offense, which also got two-hit outings from Smith and Fischer. The Lions took advantage of 12 walks issued by USD pitchers, with Dutton tying an LMU single-game record by drawing four free passes while Ahlo had pair of walks to go along with her 1-for-2 day.

Kaitlin Healy (10-6) took the loss, allowing three unearned runs on three hits but six walks in 3 1/3 innings.

LMU 5, San Diego 4 (8 inn.)
With the Coastal Division championship wrapped up, the Lions made four changes for game two. However, it was two of the regulars, Fischer and Sarginson, who did the damage, hitting back-to-back homers in the first inning and combining to drive in four runs to lift LMU to the sweep and outright possession of the Coastal Division title.

Fischer, who set the LMU and PCSC single-season record with 16 home runs last season, hit her 15th of 2011 in the first to stake the Lions to a 2-0 lead. Freshman Samantha Nelson had led off the game with a bunt single and, two batters later, Fischer extended her PCSC career record to 42 homers with a blast to left-center to pull within one of the record she shares with Sarginson. Her teammate would waste no time in breaking that record, however, following Fischer's round-tripper with one of her own, a solo shot to center, to make it 3-0.

Sarginson was not done, however, as she came up in the third and pulled a pitch over the fence in left to increase her PCSC single-season records to 18 home runs and 58 RBI.

LMU's 4-0 lead would be eliminated in the bottom of the third as the Toreros put together five hits to pull level. Kristen Gensler's RBI double got USD on the board and she would come home on Dana Prelsnik's single to center. Taylor Hensley then tied things up with a homer to left-center.

Neither team would have much opportunity to scored as the game remained knotted at four and headed into extra innings. The Lions would pounce first as Fischer drew a one-out walk and Sarginson singled her to third in the eighth. After Ahlo popped out for the inning's second out, Satete delivered a clutch single up the middle to put the Lions up 5-4.

USD had one last chance in the bottom of the frame when Hensley walked with two outs and Tieszen singled. Lauren Tomey would end the game with a flyout to left.

Freshman Stevie Goldstein (5-5) was outstanding in relief, allowing just Tieszen's single over the last 5 2/3 innings to gain the win. Goldstein walked one and struck out five in relief of junior starter Corie Goodman, who gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Sarginson and Nelson each had three hits to pace the LMU attack. Satete marked her final appearance at Smith Field with two hits, including the game-winner.

Cassidy Coleman (6-5) took the loss, conceding one run on two hits in three innings of relief. Healy had gone the first five innings, allowing four runs on eight hits.

LMU will now travel to Portland to face Mountain Division champions Portland State in the 2011 PCSC Championship Series. The best-of-three series will begin Friday at Erv Lind Stadium. Game 2 and Game 3, if necessary, will be Saturday. Game times are to be announced.