CSUSM Softball Sweeps Azusa Pacific
2/12/08

Box Score (Game One)
Box Score (Game Two)

Tuesday was a great bounce-back day for CSUSM softball, as the Cougars took both games of a double-header at Azusa Pacific.  The wins bring CSUSM to 5-3 on the season, equaling half of the squad's win total from all of last season.

The losses are Azusa Pacific's first of the season.

CSUSM took game one by a score of 2-1, withstanding a late charge after taking a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh.  The squad took game two in even more dramatic fashion, winning in extra innings by a score of 3-2.  The big wins come on the heels of the a pair of tough defeats  to Redlands on Tuesday.

Great pitching and timely hitting were the stories of the day for CSUSM.  In game one, Melissa Lerno was fantastic, holding Azusa's mighty lineup to just 4 hits and 1 run over 7 innings of work.  She walked just two and struck out 5.  The defense behind her was excellent, not committing an error in the game.  The win improves Lerno's record to 3-0 on the year.

Azusa starter Camille Hundley came in at 2-0, but the Cougar lineup was able to scratch out a pair of runs to give Lerno enough support to win.  In the third inning, Shanti Poston got CSUSM started by drawing a walk.  Back-to-back singles by Leilani Madrigal and Nicolette Nassif loaded the bases, and Erica Coelho got the run home with a groundout.  

The 1-0 lead would persist to the 7th, where CSUSM got what proved to be a vital insurance run.  With two outs and no on, Holly Russell laid down what appeared to be a harmless bunt single.  But Poston followed with a single of her own, and an error allowed the crucial run to score.  

Things looked bad in the seventh, and it looked like the upset would fall by the wayside.  Azusa loaded the bases with no outs.  After Lerno struck out the next hitter, an RBI single brought the game to 2-1.   The next batter hit a ball to shortstop, and Poston made the daring decision to throw home rather than take the easy out.  It paid off, as she gunned down the run at the plate, preserving the 2-1 lead.  Lerno then induced a game-ending groundout to close out the huge win for Cougar softball.

But the night was only half done.   Game two saw Brenna Sandberg match Lerno's heroics, rising to the occasion to throw 8 full innings of 4-hit ball, allowing just two runs (one earned), walking 2 and striking out 6.

Azusa got on the board in the second with a leadoff homer by Natalie Mickelson.  The 1-0 lead persisted to the 5th, where the Cougars would strike back.  Elizabeth Bush led off with a double down the left field line, and Poston drew a walk.  A fielder's choice put runners at the corners with two outs, and a wild pitch allowed the tying run to score.

The game went into extras, and CSUSM wasted no time in putting the pressure back on.  With a runner placed on second (according to softball rules), Nicolette Nassif was able to successfully sacrifice her over.  That brought Erica Coelho to the plate, who delivered a huge RBI double to left.  Lerno walked, and a fielder's choice left two on with two outs.  Kami Williams stepped into the box for her first at bat of the season, and her first at-bat in Cougar blue.  She came through with what turned out to be the game-winning hit, knocking an RBI single to center.

Azusa loaded the bases with two outs, and Rebekah Weisser singled a run home.  But Cougar leftfielder Leilani Madrigal gunned down the runner heading to third, ending the game.  

Tuesday's awesome wins for CSUSM softball certainly show the squad's potential, but the team won't have long to savor them - they'll be traveling to Point Loma on Thursday for another pair of tough games.