Tigers Double Up Against the Golden Eagles
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. (Mar. 8, 2009) – After picking up a split the day before, the Tigers wanted more, and looked to sweep the La Sierra University on Bell Field this afternoon. The Golden Eagles hung tough in game one, keeping it close, but then couldn’t keep that same level of focus in a shortened game two, falling in both to the host Tigers who picked up their second sweep of the season.
In the opener, both teams pitchers started with pinpoint control. Frustrating the opposing batters for the first two innings. Then Oxy caught a break in the third inning, when Rebecca Nashleanas reach base on an error and the ensuing two base throwing error to end up on third with just one out. Olympia Powell flied out to center to bring home the run, and it looked like the Tigers had been given a gift. But they wanted more, and Gabriela Chavez started a two out rally with a single to center, stole second, and then beat out a throw to third when Stephanie Egangrounded to the shortstop. Now Oxy had runners on the corners, Egan immediately stole second, and then Alyssa Escalante cleared the bases with one swing as she delivered a screamer to right and sent the Tigers out in front 3-0.
Shanna Yackel showed that would be more then enough, as she scattered three hits over six innings of work, picking up the win. Oxy tacked on an insurance run in the sixth, as Alyssa Smith singled, and then stole second with two outs, which was just enough because Tasta Serna-Gallegos doubled to left center to bring her home just ahead of the throw at the plate. That four run lead held up, as Kimi Elguea came in to finish off the seventh, allowing one hit as she picked up the save.
In the night cap, La Sierra (1-12) hoped to solve the Yackel quandary as they had trouble making contact in the previous seven innings. But solutions were not on hand in this game either, as Yackel and Elguea combined to allow just one run on one hit in the five inning win.
Only five innings because Oxy erupted for ten runs in the contest, starting right away, as Powell tripled to center, and immediately was brought home when Chavez beat out a grounder to short for an infield single. Chavez stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, and then sprinted home on a wild pitch. Just like that Oxy was out in front in of the Golden Eagles.
The Tigers added two more in the second, as Nashleanas singled, then stole second before advancing to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Chavez picked up another RBI as she singled in the runner. But was caught stealing a play later, one of the few miscues for the Tiger shortstop. Egan doubled and then scored when Escalante almost ripped the cover off the ball, forcing an error on the shortstop who couldn’t handle the liner, and then coupled that with an errant throw and Egan glided home.
La Sierra was only trailing 4-1 at this point, but after the fourth inning, that lead ballooned to seven as the Tigers offensive onslaught continued. The Tigers loaded the bases without a hit, and the first hit of the inning, a single by Egan scored two of them. Escalante then came through again, clearing the bases with another double.
Oxy was seeing the ball so well at the plate, that even as the victory was locked up in the bottom of the fifth, that they were able to load the bases again. But this time instead of Escalante clearing the bases, it was Chavez who doubled in two more runs.
Both Escalante and Chavez had an incredible weekend, but the Tigers as a team had played very well. Taking chances and coming up with big plays, Oxy has now won five of their last six to improve to 5-7 on the year. La Sierra drops to 1-13.
Next up the Tigers face a string of non conference opponents, starting with Wheaton (Ill.) on Wednesday, March 11th starting at 11am. That will start an eight game in five days stretch for Oxy.
