SOFTBALL DROPS TWO AT SUN WEST
ORANGE, Calif. - Playing two more games on Wednesday at the Sun West Tournament at Hart Park in Orange, Calif., the Puget Sound Loggers found themselves on the wrong end of two close ball games, falling to Wesleyan, 4-3, in the first game before dropping a tough one to St. Thomas (Minn.), 3-0, in the final game of the afternoon.
In the first game of the day, the Loggers fell behind early following a single run for Wesleyan in the top of the first and a solo home run by the Cardinal's Molly O'Connell in the second inning. The Loggers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth when Kelli Ishii (Aiea, Hawaii/Punahou) hit a pop-fly that was dropped by the Wesleyan shortstop to allow Meagan Watson (Brier, Wash./Mountlake Terrace) to score.
The Cardinals then doubled their score in the top on the seventh on a long home run by Talia Bernstein that gave Wesleyan at 4-1 lead. The Loggers went on a rally of their own in the bottom of the inning. Senior Valarie Barone (San Jose, Calif./Leigh) singled in sophomore Hilary Rice (St. Paul, Minn./St. Paul Academy) and then Ishii grounded out to first with bases loaded to score Lindsay Fujita (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou). Junior Stephanie Hatley (Keizer, Ore./McNary) nearly won the game for the Loggers, hitting a long fly to center field but Wesleyan got under the ball to collect the third out and earn the 4-3 victory.
Freshman Auriel Sperberg (Tacoma, Wash./Graham-Kapowsin) took the loss for UPS, allowing four runs on 12 hits in seven innings pitched. Karla Hargrove earned the win for Wesleyan, allowing three runs on four hits with six strikeouts. Anu Rimal collect the save, allowing just one hit in one inning of relief to finish the game.
In the second game of the day, the Loggers faced off against fourth-ranked St. Thomas and the game turned out to be anything but a normal day at the ball field. St. Thomas scored single runs in the first, third and sixth innings to earn a 3-0 victory but it was a very unusual play in the bottom of the sixth that will be the play of the game for all involved. With one out and runners on first and second, UST right fielder Allison Wright hit a tower shot towards the fence in right-center by Rice was able to run it out, leap over the fence and make a beautiful catch for the second out. The umpires then ruled the ball was still in play and the Loggers were able to throw the ball in to appeal the runner from first that was standing on second who did not tag-up as the Loggers picked up the unconventional F834 double play. Bijou Felder (Berkeley, Calif./St. Mary's) took the loss for the Loggers, allowing three runs, two earned, on 12 hits in six innings pitched. Marta Radcliffe earned the win for UST, allowing four hits in seven innings of scoreless work with six strikeouts.
The Loggers will play two more games in California on Thursday before returning to Tacoma. UPS will take on Knox in the early game at 8:30 before taking on Williams in the 10:45 contest.
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