Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The USD softball team (4-4) split their two games on Saturday. In game one the freshmen duo of Paige von Sprecken and Kailey Hill lifted the Toreros to a 3-2 win over Kent State. Von Sprecken threw another complete game allowing just one earned run and Hill launched a two run game-tying home run. In game two, the Torero pitching staff struggled with their command, issuing eight walks and eight earned runs on their way to an 11-5 loss to Montana.

In the first game, the Golden Flashes got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. After their first two batters reached base, Janel Hayes hit a double to deep center field to bring home pinch runner Emily Dobbin. Kent State scored one more with a RBI single to left field, giving them a 2-0 lead.

The Toreros answered right back in the following inning. With two outs, Olivia Sandusky reached on an error and then freshman Kailey Hill made the Golden Flashes pay with a two run home run down the left field line, evening up the score at 2-2.

The Toreros put their rally caps on in the bottom of the sixth. After Chloe Kaneko singled to center, Morgan Kurtz pinch-ran for her and immediately stole second base. She then advanced to third on a Sandusky flyout to right. Two batters later, Mary Grabowski came to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded. After fouling off a few pitches, Kent State's Emma Johnson threw a high fastball then went over the head of the catcher, allowing Kurtz to score on the wild pitch at a close play at the plate.

Paige von Sprecken (3-1) then retired the side in order in the seventh to pick up her third complete game and win on the season. She allowed just one earned run on five hits and tied her season-high with seven strikeouts. KSU's Johnson (1-1) took the loss despite allowing just one earned run in six innings.

In USD's second game, Montana's first two runners reached base and would come around to score on a sacrifice fly and single. Hill got those runs back with a two RBI single to left field to bring home Danielle Mavridis and Chloe Kaneko, who both reached on a base on balls.

The Toreros added one run in the bottom of third, taking advantage of a Montana defensive miscue. After Mavridis was hit by a pitch, Kaneko squared up for a sacrifice bunt. The throw to first was high and went into rightfield, allowing Mavridis to come all the way around to score.

The Torero pitchers ran into some trouble in the following inning, giving up six runs and walking four batters. Hill gave up a leadoff walk, and the next batter reached on a bunt single. After getting the first out of the inning on a lineout, Hill walked another batter to load the bases. The next batter, Lexie Brenneis, hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score one and then Montana scored one more on a RBI single, which ended Hill's day. Megan Sabbatini came in relief, but also struggled with her location and walked her first two batters. Montana then hit a bases clearing double, bringing in three runs to give the Griz an 8-3 lead.

The struggles continued for the Toreros in the top of the fifth as they gave up three more runs to bring the score to 11-3. USD kept the game alive by scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. The first three batters reached base and then the Toreros showed patience at the plate, drawing a pair of bases loaded walks (Kaneko and Sandusky), bringing the score to 11-5 which would be the final score.

Hill (0-1) suffered her first loss of the season, allowing six earned runs. Meggie Reitz (1-1) helped Montana earn its first win in program history, allowing four earned runs in 5.1 innings.

The Toreros have two more games in the USD Tournament on Sunday. They will play Southern Utah at approximately 2:00 p.m. and then will face Cal State Bakersfield.