April 30, 2011

Box Score - Game 1 | Box Score - Game 2

FULLERTON, CA - Visiting Pacific surrendered a combined six hits on the afternoon while combining for 24 of its own, helping lift the Tigers to a pair of five-inning victories over host Cal State Fullerton by the scores of 10-0 and 8-0 in a battle of first-place teams on Saturday afternoon at Anderson Family Field.

The losses dropped the Titans to 20-20 overall and 9-5 in Big West play while Pacific took over sole possession of first-place in the league standings with the wins, improving to 32-15 overall and 11-3 in conference action.

In the opener, Nicole Matson finished with a pair of hits and four RBI in support of starter Nikki Armagost (16-9), who scattered just four hits and faced just five over the minimum in the 10-0 victory. The top six hitters in the Tigers' order accounted for eight of the team's 11 hits on the afternoon as Pacific scored multiple runs in four of the five innings and left 10 on base for the contest.

Armagost, who also finished 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored at the plate, didn't allow a runner past second base, striking out two and walking one in the win.

Senior Ari Cervantes (13-12) suffered the loss, allowing four earned on nine hits in just three innings of work. Sophomore Aly Fascetti finished the game, allowing two earned on two hits in two innings.

Four different Titans finished with hits as Fullerton, which committed four errors in the game, was shutout for the first time since March 19.

RBI singles by Amy Moore and Kelsey Rodriguez got the Tigers on the board in the first and that was followed by three more in the second on an RBI single by Megan Foglesong and a two-run double by Matson for the 5-0 lead. After leaving the bases loaded in the third, but coming up empty, Matson's 10th home run of the year, a two-run shot in the fourth, extended the lead to 7-0 and Pacific capped the scoring by plating three in the fifth on an RBI double from Armagost, a wild pitch, and an illegal pitch.

Game two was more of the same from the Tigers, who jumped out to another quick lead on an RBI single by Moore in the first and two more in the second on RBI hits by Foglesong and Matson for the 3-0 advantage. That lasted until the fifth when Pacific sent 10 batters to the plate, scoring five of them, to close out the game.

A squeeze by Foglesong drove home another run after the Tigers opened the inning with back-to-back hits and a sacrifice bunt. A walk then re-loaded the bases for Matson, who singled up the middle to score another, and a bases-loaded walk preceded a two-run single by Rodriguez into the gap in right centerfield for the final 8-0 advantage.

Matson finished 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI and was joined by Pierce, who also had three hits and two runs scored.

Tori Shepard (12-6), pitched a two-hit shutout, walking just one and leaving a pair at second base. Katey Laban (5-5), who suffered her first loss in Big West play this season, allowing two earned on nine hits in three innings before being lifted in the fourth following a collision with teammate Morgan LeMond trying to field a bunt. Cervantes then threw the final two innings, allowing five runs on four hits in two innings.

Cal State Fullerton, which lost its first Big West Conference series of the season, will look to avoid the sweep in game three of the series on Sunday (May 1). First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.