Sophomore Amber Dragomir |
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Monique Baeza''s second shutout in as many days led UC Riverside to a 1-0 victory over Sacramento State in a Big West Conference softball game Sunday afternoon at UCR Softball Field. With the victory, the Highlanders completed a three-game sweep of the Hornets as UC Riverside swept a doubleheader yesterday.The Highlanders improved to 14-42 overall and 4-17 in the Big West. Sacramento State, which has now lost 12 of its last 13 games, dropped to 16-32 and 5-16 in the conference. After being shut out today, the Hornet offense has now gone 27-consecutive innings without scoring a run. The program record for most consecutive innings without scoring is 32, set by the 1994 team.
Baeza (6-21), who tossed a four-hit shutout yesterday, scattered seven hits while walking three in seven innings of work. The Hornets, who did not score a run in the three-game series, left eight runners on base today. Sacramento State had a chance to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning, but Jillian Bivert was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second base on an Amber Dragomir single.
UC Riverside scored the game''s lone run in the fourth inning on Sarah Smallwood''s two-out, RBI-single scoring Karli Burneleit. Sacramento State starter Kirsten Wise did not allow a Highlander runner past second base during any other inning. Wise (1-6) picked up the loss despite allowing one run and six hits in six innings of work.
The Hornets left at least one runner on base in every inning of the contest, including a one-out, runner at third base situation in the sixth inning.
After two outs had been recorded in the seventh, Bivert laced a double down the right field line. Dragomir followed by dinking a single over the head of Highlander second baseman Daniella Garcia. After Garcia retrieved the ball, she threw to first baseman Colby Kelly who relayed home where Brandy Chavez applied the tag to Bivert ending the game.
Sacramento State''s Dragomir and Amy Hillel each finished with two hits while UC Riverside''s Kiara and Karli Burneleit also finished with a pair of hits.
The Hornets close out the 2002 season next weekend as they host UC Santa Barbara for a three-game series Friday-Saturday, May 10-11. The teams will play a doubleheader Friday at noon, and a single game Saturday at noon. Hornet seniors Cathy Coupar, Meghan Cunningham, Yolanda Estrada, Lori Meixner, Alison Norman, Arlette Sunseri and Mary Villalpando will be honored for their contributions to the program prior to Saturday''s contest.
