Softball Shut Out by USD
February 16, 2007

It was a short night for Cougar softball on Thursday, as the squad lost 8-0 to the University of San Diego. The game was called in the 5th inning.

Playing against a Division I-A school (in their home opener no less) would obviously be a challenge for the Cougars, and the Torreros lineup proved too much even for Cougar ace Melissa Lerno.

For a while though, CSUSM hung in there. After allowing 2 runs in the first, Lerno got into her groove and threw 3 scoreless innings. In the 5th, she got 2 outs without allowing a run - but then the floodgates opened. A couple singles produced a run, and a very costly error prolonged the inning and allowed 2 more runs to score. Three singles and a hit batter later, and it was a 7-0 game. Erica Coelho was brought in to try to end the inning, but the 8th run came in sinlge, invoking the mercy rule.

At the plate, CSUSM couldn't get anything going off the Christina Haake, who pitched scoreless ball over the full 5 innings, walking 1 and striking out 3. Cougar Tasha Stokes had her number, going 2-for-2; and Elizabeth Bush and Lindsey Preovolos also recorded hits.

The loss drops the Cougars to 1-6 on the season. They will next take the field on Saturday at Cal State San Bernardino.