March 7, 2014

Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The USD softball team (4-10) lost their opening game of the Highlander Classic 5-2 to Idaho State (10-7) Friday morning. The Toreros opened up a 2-0 lead in the third inning, but the Bengals scored five late runs in the fifth and sixth inning to take the lead.

A couple of costly Idaho State errors loaded the bases for the Toreros in the third inning and Caitlin Rooney took advantage, hitting a two RBI double to centerfield to bring in Morgan Kurtz and Dana Prelsnik to give USD a 2-0 lead.

Jenny Lahitte was lights out to start the game, recording her first seven outs via strikeout. She gave up only two hits through the first four innings, but the Bengals bats caught fire in the fifth. With runners on second and third, cather Vicky Galasso hit a two RBI single to knot the game at two apiece.

In the following inning the Bengals scored three more runs, all coming with two outs. After Lahitte struck out the first two batters, she allowed three consecutive singles and was lifted for Cassidy Coleman with USD down 3-2. With runners on second and third, Kacie Burnett knocked in two more with a RBI single to give the Bengals a 5-2 lead.

After the first two batters reached in the seventh inning, the Toreros brought the tying run to the plate but the Bengals retired the next three batters to earn the 5-2 win.

Lahitte (3-5) was saddled with the loss after giving up five runs on seven hits while striking out a season-high 11 batters. The Bengals Haley Douglas threw a complete game and earned the win, giving up no earned runs and seven hits.

The Toreros will continue play in the Highlander Classic on Saturday when they face Utah State at 9:00 a.m. followed by a game against UC Riverside.