LOYOLA MARYMOUNT SCORES FOUR RUNS IN THE SEVENTH TO DEFEAT SOFTBALL, 7-6

4/16/2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Christine Foley had two hits and three RBIs, including a two-run single to cap a four-run seventh inning, as Loyola Marymount defeated Sacramento State, 7-6, in the final of a four-game Pacific Coast Softball Conference series Monday afternoon at Shea Stadium.

With the victory, the Lions took three of four games from the Hornets in a series where all four games were decided by two runs or less. Loyola Marymount improved to 33-16 overall and 6-2 in the conference. The loss was devastating for Sacramento State in that the team could have climbed back into the PCSC race with a victory. The Hornets now find themselves at 11-29 and 2-5 in the conference.

Sacramento State had battered LMU starter Tiffany Pagano to the tune of 10 hits and six runs over seven innings. In fact, Pagano had to throw 186 pitches over seven innings, or more than 26 per inning. However, the Hornets stranded 13 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded on three separate occasions.

Still, the Hornets looked like they would win after taking a three-run lead (6-3) into the seventh and final inning. Sacramento State starter Kayla Meeks had been sailing along, holding the Lions scoreless during five of the first six innings. But Meeks began the seventh by walking the Lions’ No. 9 hitter J.J. Hartung on four pitches. A double by Kirsten Slouber, a walk to MiaSarah Cesena, and a single by Margo Pineda later, the Lions had already sliced the Hornet lead to one run (6-5), and Meeks was replaced by freshman Brittani Clifford.

After a walk and a strikeout, Foley singled home both Pineda and Cesena for what proved to be the game-winning runs. In the bottom half of the seventh, after stranding at least one runner on base each of the first six innings, Pagano set down the Hornets in order to end the game.

Pagano (14-8) got the win, while Meeks (7-12) picked up the loss, allowing seven runs and eight hits over six innings.

All but two Hornet starters had at least one hit, including multiple-hit games from junior Amy Tompkins (3-for-5 with three runs) and sophomore Whitney Loomis (2-for-4 with a run). Sacramento State’s Nos. 3-6 hitters of Jamie Schloredt, Meeks, Andrea Sherrill and Sherry Clark each had an RBI.

Tompkins picked up her ninth multiple-hit game of the season, extended her hitting streak to five games, and improved her batting average to .294.

Sacramento State concludes its seven-game homestand this Wednesday, April 18, when the team welcomes Cal for a game at 2 p.m. Live audio of the game will be made available by clicking on the Multimedia link via www.hornetsports.com.