March 20, 2010

Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The Toreros dropped a heart breaker to the Kansas University Jayhawks on Saturday afternoon as they fell 5-4 in extra innings at the San Diego Classic II Tournament.

In the last game of day three, the Toreros quickly punched through a two run lead in the first inning against the Jayhawks. Kristen Gensler lead off with a single followed by a Danielle Duhart sacrifice bunt to move Gensler to second base. Jennifer Ellenbeck reached on a Jayhawks error putting runners at the corners bringing up Celeste Soto who hit an RBI-sacrifice fly to right field scoring Gensler. Taylor Hensley doubled up the middle scoring Ellenbeck from first base as the Toreros took a 2-0 lead. San Diego would one more run across in the fourth inning when the Jayhawks catcher failed to pickoff Gensler at second base allowing Wineinger to make a break for the plate and Kansas blew the play at home lifting the Toreros to a 3-1 lead.

The Jayhawks would bring around three runs in the seventh inning to take back the lead 4-3 over the Toreros, however USD did not quit as they recorded the tying run in the bottom half of the inning forcing their second consecutive extra inning game in two days. Megan Walsh would come up with another big hit keeping the Toreros alive as she hit an RBI-tripled to right field scoring Allison Stalberger from first base.

With the game tied at 4-4 and the Jayhawks with a runner in scoring position, San Diego's defense would prove strong as they held Kansas scoreless in the eighth inning. Taylor Lawrence would take second base in the bottom half of the eighth, however USD was unable to score sending the game further into extra innings. Kansas would record one run in the ninth inning as they would go on to win 5-4.

Cathy Wineinger finished 2-for-4 on the night with one run scored. Taylor Hensley was 2-for-5 with one double and one RBI. Carey Casciola finished 1-for-3 with one double on the day. Megan Walsh had a solid triple for the team as well.

Alyssa Luna took the loss as she pitched nine innings of work falling to 2-2 on the season striking out six batters on the day.

The Toreros return to the USD Softball Complex to wrap up the San Diego Classic II on Sunday, March 21 with an 11:30 a.m. showdown with the Beavers of Oregon State University. Military Appreciation Day will take place as the Torero softball team and the USD Athletic Department will honor the Armed Forces with pregame ceremonies beginning at approximately 11:00 a.m.