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Lerno, Coelho, Tucker Lead
Softball to Pair of Victories |
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Complete Box Scores »» vs. Doane vs. Dana Competing at the Sun West Tournament, Cougar softball snapped its four game losing streak, and is now on a two-game win streak, thanks to a sweep of Sunday’s games. CSUSM first defeated Doane College 5-2, then went on to best Dana College 3-2. After a couple of rocky starts in recent games, Cougar pitchers Melissa Lerno and Erica Coelho gave the team two high quality starts on Sunday; which combined with timely hitting propelled the team to its victories. In game one, Lerno took the mound and was greeted by a one-out first inning home run by Doane’s Joy Vasa. Lerno didn’t panic, however, and quickly settled down to pitch a perfect second and get out of a two-on one-out jam in the third (both runners had reached on errors). Meanwhile, CSUSM’s offense stranded runners in the first two innings, but broke through in the third to take the lead. Coelho walked to leadoff the inning, and speedy Danielle Tucker bunted her over and reached base herself on an error by the catcher. After an out, Amanda Sanchez reached on a bunt to load the bases. That brought the Cougars’ leading hitter, Elizabeth Bush, to the plate – and she blasted a two-RBI double to center to give CSUSM a 2-1 lead. Doane would tie the game in the fourth, as once again the Cougar made two errors in the field. With two runners on, Lerno got a strike out and groundout to end the inning and prevent further damage. And the Cougars would immediately un-tie the game. Erica Coelho led off the inning by crushing a home run to center. She joins Amanda Sanchez as the only Cougars to homer this season. Danielle Tucker followed that up by singling, then stealing second and advancing to third on the throw. She was brought home by a Lerno sac fly to make the game 4-2. The Cougars got one more run in the 7th to make it 5-2, but Lerno wouldn’t need the insurance, as she allowed just one hit in the final three innings to finish off the game. Lerno allowed just 4 hits in her 7 innings of work, giving up the two runs while tying her season high with 8 strikeouts. After Coelho’s big-time performance at the plate in game one, she took the mound in game two, and came through with one of her best starts of the season. Coelho allowed just two runs in 5.2 innings of work. Both runs crossed the plate in the second, as she was greeted with a Sara Sempek home run, and allowed another run on a groundout. But Coelho got out of that inning, and went on to dominate the opposing lineup in allowing just one hit over the next three innings. At the plate, Dana starter Josi Barrow limited the CSUSM lineup early on. Danielle Tucker manufactured a run in the first, singling to left, advancing to second on a passed ball, and coming home on an error. Down 2-1 in the 5th, Tucker once again sparked the Cougar rally. With one out, she reached on a base hit to center, then stole second and advanced to third when the throw hit her in the helmet and ricocheted into center. Melissa Lerno then drove her home to tie the game. Amanda Sanchez followed that up with a single, and Elizabeth Bush came through with her second big hit of the day, a single that plated the go-ahead and eventual winning run. Securing the win proved difficult, however, as Dana got two runners in scoring position with one out in the sixth. Coehlo rallied to strike out the next hitter, then Coach Jen Milo called for Lerno to enter the game. Lerno came through, striking out the next batter to escape the inning and preserve the lead. She would go on to pitch a perfect 7th to pick up the save. Aside from the terrific pitching, Danielle Tucker was fantastic in both games. She went a combined 5-for-6, scoring 4 of the Cougars’ 8 runs on the day. Tucker is now hitting .339; second on the team only behind Elizabeth Bush, who improved her average to .370 on Sunday as she drove in 3 big RBI’s. The Cougars, now on a two-game win streak, will look to keep the momentum going on Saturday, as they’ll take on Hope International at home. |