Feb. 7, 2013
Box Score
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ST. GEORGE, Utah - The LMU softball team opened the 2013 season in style, clinching a 9-0 shutout of Colorado State in its opening game of the Red Desert Classic in St. George, Utah.
The Lions (1-0) got a 10-strikeout, two-hit complete-game performance from rookie Sydney Gouveia while the offense got hot late breaking out with a seven-run seventh inning.
All nine LMU starters recorded at least one hit, led by Sterling Shuster's 3-for-4 performance. Danielle Smith, Breeanna Sandoval, Stephanie Crist and Olivia Alvarez collected a pair of hits each, while Crist tallied a team-high two RBIs.
LMU got on the board in the top of the fifth, on a two-out, two-RBI home run to left by the freshman Crist. Sandoval, who had reached on a hit by pitch, also scored on the play.
The Lions then broke the game open in the top of the seventh, scoring seven runs on seven hits and two Colorado State field errors. Crist led off the inning with her second long ball of the game, a solo shot to left. Meghan Harman doubled in Alvarez, who reached on a single to center for the second run of the inning.
Following a Rams' pitching change Shuster slapped an RBI single through the left side to send Harman home, Stephanie Maciel knocked an RBI-double to left center and Samantha Nelson followed with an RBI ground out to third. Maciel scored on an error that allowed Smith to reach first and, batting through the order and then some, Alvarez singled in Smith to round out the LMU scoring.
Gouveia was steady and dominant in the circle from start to finish, only giving up singles in the first and fourth, while issuing just two walks.
Colorado State's (1-1) Kailey Snyder took the loss, giving up 11 hits and five earned runs in six innings of work. Kali Hass worked the final three outs for the Rams, but not before allowing four hits for two earned runs before.
The Lions resume tournament action Friday, facing Weber State at 10 a.m. (PT) and Utah at 3 p.m. (PT). Tournament play concludes Saturday with the Lions matching up against Utah State and Arkansas.
-GO LIONS-
