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Lerno
Throws No-Hitter, Coelho Hits Two Home Runs; Softball Twice a Winner
at Sun West Tourney |
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Box Score (Game One) At Friday's Sun West Tourney, Melissa Lerno was her usual dominant self, and then some. The Cougar ace recorded the second no-hitter for Cal State San Marcos softball this month, striking out 11 and walking no one in a 5-inning mercy rule victory over Avila University. It was a successful day overall at the Sun West Tourney for Cougar softball, as the squad also held on to defeat St. Thomas 5-3 at night. The wins improve the Cougars' record to 18-9 on the season, and provide an abrupt halt to what was a three-game losing streak. Game one belonged to Lerno. After an error allowed Avila's first batter to reach, Lerno retired the final 15 batters she faced in order. She struck out two hitters in each of the first four innings, and capped the game off by striking out the side in the sixth. If not for the mercy rule, it's a safe bet that Lerno would have surpassed her season-high strikeout total of 13. The Cougar offense, however, was not to be denied. CSUSM effectively ended the game in the third inning, posting seven runs. The Cougars followed that up with three in the fourth, and one in the fifth. Erica Coelho was the star at the plate, going 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and a pair of runs scored. It would not be her most memorable performance of the day. Elizabeth Bush scored a pair of runs and drove in one, and Tasha Stokes drove in two runs as well. When not mowing down Avila's lineup, Lerno found time to tally a pair of RBI's as well. Lerno's no-hitter is the second in Cougar history, with Ashley Salvino throwing one at the Sun West Tournament on March 9th against Bethany. In game two, the University of St. Thomas posed more of a challenge, but in the end the Cougars prevailed. Starter Brenna Sandberg was solid, going the full 7 innings, scattering 6 hits and 4 walks while striking out 6. The game started as a pitchers' duel, with neither team scoring in the first three innings. Then Erica Coelho went to work. Coelho led off the fourth by crushing a home run to center, breaking the scoreless tie. Lerno then drew a walk, and a Marly Barth single put runners at the corners. Lauren Nelson then delivered the big hit, doubling down the left field line to plate both runs and make it 3-0 CSUSM. Coelho would strike again the seventh. After Shanti Poston singled, Coelho came up with two outs and smacked a homer to left, providing what looked to just be "insurance runs" at the time. On the day as a whole, Coelho was a ridiculous 6-for-8 with 2 HR, 6 RBI, and 5 runs scored. And as it turned out, that second homer proved to be the difference. Sandberg ran into trouble in the seventh, as St. Thomas loaded the bases with one out. They scored three runs, but Coach Kelly Warren stuck with Sandberg, and she worked out of it with a strikeout and groundout to close out the win. CSUSM
will be in action tomorrow afternoon again at the Sun West Tourney. |