Fresno State Athletics
Pacific Stays Alive With 6-0 Defeat of Evansville
5/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 16, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. - It took just the second inning for Pacific to pull away from Evansville in the Tigers' 6-0 defeat of UE in an NCAA Regional elimination game.
With one out in the second, the Tigers' center fielder Estee Okumura singled and stole second. Boni Kading then singled to center to score Okumura and advanced to second on the throw. Next, catcher Ashlie D'Errico was hit by a pitch. With two runners on, the second baseman Aloha Yamaguchi singled to deep short, loading the bases. Pacific's right fielder, Nicole Inouye, then clared the bases with a triple to left center, making the score 4-0.
The Tigers tacked one on in the fifth when Brandy Thurman hit a double to center to drive in a run.
Evansville had an opportunity in its half of the fifth, but couldn't capitalize. After two singles and a walk loaded the bases, D'Errico stifled any runs with a diving catch of a tipped ball behind home plate.
Pacific's final run was scored in the fourth inning on a single from Thurman.
Cindy Ball improved to 28-10 while going the distance and allowing just three hits, a walk while striking out a season-high 14. Casey Clutch was handed the loss, dropping her record to 15-15. The loss ends UE's season.
Pacific advances to play No. 4 seeded Fresno State on Friday at 2:30 p.m. in Game 5. The loser will be eliminated from the Regional.
