May 8, 2009

Box Score

ST. GEORGE, Utah – The Cal State Monterey Bay softball team battled a hard fought game against No. 19 Dixie State in the first round of the NCAA Division II West Regionals, falling 7-6 in eight innings.

Out hitting the Red Storm 11-8, junior #Shelair Rowell# was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3.  Senior #Valerie Calderon# hit her second home run of the season in the sixth inning while junior #Lucia Rodriguez# racked up her 18th double.

Rodriguez drew a walk and scored on a double by Rowell to give the Otters a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning.

Dixie State's freshman #Kelsey Mendenhall# led off the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run over the center field wall.  Three CSUMB errors enabled the Red Storm to take a 4-1 lead.

Senior #Ashlee Trotter# hit a RBI single to score junior Niki Ames in the third inning to close the game to 4-2.

With two runners on in the bottom of the third, freshman #Jamie Moon# fielded the ball and made a diving tag for the final out.

In the top of the sixth, Rodriguez led off with a double to the left field center gap. Rowell followed with single to right field to advance Rodriguez to third base. Senior #Rachelle Morales# hit a RBI single through the right side to bring Rodriguez across the plate.  On the first pitch she faced, pinch hitter Calderon crushed a three-run homer over the left field wall to give the Otters back the lead, 6-4.

Dixie State scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score 6-6.

The Red Storm won the game when Mendenhall was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Senior #Jessica Boyle# took the loss, giving up two runs in 2.2 innings. Relief pitcher Brittnie Whipple earned the win for Dixie State, allowing four runs on eight hits in four innings.

In the double elimination tournament, the Otters will take on UC San Diego at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at Karl Brooks Field.