Softball Drops Pair of Games to Azusa Pacific
March 27, 2007

Complete Box Scores »» Game 1   Game 2

The Cougar softball squad traveled to Azusa Pacific on Tuesday, but came home empty-handed, losing by scores of 4-3 and 9-5.

Game one was tightly-contested from start to finish. CSUSM's Melissa Lerno and Azusa's Erin Halma both had success in keeping the lineups generally subdued, and defensive miscues played a large role in the scoring.

Azusa broke through first, putting up two runs in the third. Back-to-back singles greeted Lerno to start the inning, and a throwing error on the second one moved the runners into scoring position. Both would score when Tami Carter knocked a base hit into left field.

After a scoreless fourth, the Cougars would roar back to take the lead in the fifth. Leilani Madrigal was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Erica Coelho reached on an error. Danielle Tucker then singled in the run. Tucker has been absolutely on fire at the plate lately, tallying 10 hits in her last 5 games (at that point), and raising her average from .290 to .359.

After a fielder's choice put runners at the corners with one out, Tasha Stokes delivered the big blow. The slugger blasted a double to left center, driving in both runs and giving CSUSM its first lead of the ballgame.

But the lead would not hold, as Azusa answered right back in the bottom of the inning. An error put the first runner on, and she made it to third with one out. Courtney Cleaves then singled in that run, and was herself knocked in on a Halma base hit.

In the 7th, the Cougars had a terrific opportunity to overcome the 4-3 deficit, but couldn't push a run across. CSUSM loaded the bases with one out, but a strikeout and groundout ended the game.

Game two would not be quite as close. As has been the unfortunate pattern all season, a seemingly different team took the field when Erica Coelho took the mound. CSUSM committed 5 errors in the contest, while Coehlo walked 6 and allowed 10 hits. Meanwhile, the Cougar lineup had no trouble reaching base off Azusa starter Bre Anderson. They posted 14 hits, yet could only push across 5 runs.

In fact, the lack of clutch hitting in the early innings could be the single biggest reason for the loss. In the first 3 innings, CSUSM stranded 8 runners, and scored just two runs.

Azusa got on the board for 3 in the first inning, and when a Malarie Barnard RBI made the game 3-1 in the second, they quickly answered with another run. Still, CSUSM was very much in the game, clawing back to a 6-4 score in the fifth. But a backbreaking 3-run bottom of the fifth for Azusa dashed any hopes of a Cougar comeback, and the game ended 9-5.

Despite the losses, plenty of Cougars had good days at the plate. Both Coelho and Holly Russell tallied 3 hits in the second game, while Tucker got 3 in the first.

Cougar softball will be back home for games on Saturday and Sunday, starting at noon on both days.