Pitchers Dominate as Softball Sweeps La Sierra
April 6, 2007

Complete Box Scores »» Game 1   Game 2

Melissa Lerno and Erica Coelho tossed the first two complete-game shutouts in Cal State San Marcos softball history on Friday, as the Cougars cruised to back-to-back 5-0 shutouts at La Sierra.

The Lerno/Coleho duo combined to allow just 6 hits over their 14 innings of work. They struck out 18 hitters while walking just three. In other words, they were dominant.

Game one saw Lerno simply overpower the opposing lineup – which has become the norm recently. Since a tough start against Point Loma on March 17th, Lerno has allowed just 9 earned runs in 55 innings pitched – an ERA of 1.14. In that time, she has lowered her season ERA a full run.

Lerno also got the Cougar offense kick-started, doubling in a pair in the second inning to give CSUSM an early 2-0 lead. That lead would be extended to 3-0 in the fifth by an Elizabeth Bush two-out RBI single, and pushed to 5-0 in the seventh on a Tasha Stokes single and an error.

Not that Lerno would need the extra support. She allowed just one hit – an Alyssa Fischer single in the second – scattered three walks, and struck out 11 batters in posting the shutout.

There would be no game two letdown, as Erica Coelho followed up Lerno’s performance with a sparkling effort of her own. While control has been an issue for Coelho throughout most of this season, she did not walk a single hitter on Friday. In Coelho’s last 18 innings pitched, she’s walked just four batters – good news for both her and the team.

CSUSM would once again jump out to an early lead, as Coelho and Danielle Tucker led off the game with singles. After an error plated the first run, Elizabeth Bush singled in the second, pushing her team-leading RBI total to 18.

The Cougars would get some insurance in the 4th, as Malarie Barnard would drive Bush home to make the game 3-0. It would be extended to 5-0 in the 7th, with Lerno tripling in a run, then scoring herself on an error.

Coelho escaped a two-on one-out jam in the 7th to complete the shutout. Along with the zero walks, she nearly doubled her season-high with seven strikeouts. Coelho has also established herself as the team’s leadoff hitter, batting .304 and slugging a team-best .413.

CSUSM will look to keep the momentum going at home, as they’ll take on Concordia on April 14th at 10:30 AM.