Streaking Tigers Sweep Another Series
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. (Mar. 13, 2009) – Two more wins on Bell Field under the Southern California sun stretched the Occidental softball win streak to six games, as the Tigers defeated Hendrix College (AR) 3-2 and 7-4 today.
The sophomore duo of Stephanie Egan and Olympia Powell each hit safely in her fifth consecutive game as Egan led the offense today with a 4-for-6 combined performance, driving in four and scoring twice while stealing a base in her only attempt.
The Tigers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the twin bill opener when Alyssa Escalante connected for her second homerun of the season, a line drive over the left field fence.
Hendrix college tied things up in the fourth after starting pitcher Shanna Yackel retired the side in order in each of the first three innings. The Warriors’ leadoff batter doubled and scored to tie things at 1-1. She then put Hendrix up 2-1 in the sixth with a solo homerun. Right fielder Rebecca Nashleanas made a diving catch in foul ground for the second out before Yackel got a groundball to end the inning.
Occidental dug their claws in during the bottom part of the inning to produce a pair. Powell led off with a single but was retired at second when Gabriela Chavez grounded into a fielders choice. Escalante then singled to centerfield and a miscue in the outfield allowed Chavez to scurry around to third. Egan collected her second hit of the game, driving in Chavez and moving pinch runner Lindsay Gross to second. Alyssa Smith reached on another fielders choice, putting runners on the corners. Smith quickly stole second, drawing a throw, which allowed Gross steal home, sliding in safely with the winning run.
Yackel got the start, in both games, and tossed 4.2 innings, striking out two and allowing one run on just one hit before handing the ball over to Kimi Elguea (4-3) who recorded her first victory of the day.
In game two Hendrix built an early lead on a two-run first inning homerun, adding another run in the second inning.
Occidental plated a pair in the second to cut the deficit to 3-2 before Hendrix pushed their run total to four in the top of the third. That, however, was all the offense the Warriors would produce as Elguea again came on in relief to face two batters over the minimum. She forced six groundball outs and five fly balls, including two line drives to left fielder Nicole Hannasch in the seventh inning. Elguea finished the game off with a strikeout, looking.
Offensively, the Tiger bats came alive in the fifth inning. After again pulling the game within a run, at 4-3 after four, when Hannasch was hit by a pitch and stole second before scoring.
Powell and Chavez led off the fifth inning with back-to-back singles, Chavez’s on a bunt between the first baseman and pitcher. Escalante then sacrificed the duo over to third and second, respectively. Egan once again came through in the clutch with a two-RBI single to right field, advancing to second on the throw. A Hendrix pitching change didn’t stop the offense as Smith reached on an infield single, quickly swiping second base. As a pinch hitter, Gross, hit a hard ground ball at the third baseman, who had trouble with the shot, scoring Egan.
Oxy added an insurance run in the sixth when Chavez scored on another Egan single after she and pinch hitter Britt Karp drew back-to-back walks.
Again Yackel took the grunt of the Warriors abuse on the mound, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out two in 3.0 innings.
Overall on the day eight different Tiger players had at least one hit. Egan led the attack while Escalante and Powell each accounted for two hits. In the field Chavez had seven assists and Nashleanas had six putouts and one assist.
The Tigers have a quick turnaround as they host Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foe Redlands for a pair tomorrow on Bell Field beginning at 12:00 p.m.
