Feb. 8, 2015 Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. - After finishing a game at 1:30 in the morning the previous night, the USD softball team (2-3) lost to Fresno State 10-2 in five innings Sunday afternoon in the Kajikawa Softball Classic.
USD continued its trend of getting on the board early, scoring one in the first inning. Danielle Mavridis drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and then was driven home by a Caitlin Rooney double to right centerfield.
Megan Sabbatini, who was making her first appearance of 2015, ran into some trouble in the second inning. With runners on first and second, Alyssa Villalpando hit a RBI single up the middle to tie it up at 1-1. Chase Leehong followed that with a double to left field, which brought home a run and out runners on second and third. Whitney Smith then brought home both runners with a single, bringing the score to 4-1 Bulldogs.
The Toreros got a run back in the following inning when Olivia Sandusky singled home Kelsey Borello, who had a leadoff bunt single.
Sabbatini's struggles continued in the third. After giving up a leadoff double, she hit the next batter, and then a run came in on an error, which ended Sabbatini's day. Grace Hernandez came in with two runners on, but got the first batter to foul out and then induced a double play to get out of a jam and end the inning.
The Bulldogs scored four more runs in the fifth inning to end the game. After Hernandez got the leadoff batter to line out to second, she began to struggle with her command. After allowing a walk and hitting a batter, the Bulldogs singled home a run. Hernandez then walked the next two batters, and the Bulldogs were able to score a pair of runs on an error and sacrifice fly.
Sabbatini (0-1) took the loss, giving up five earned runs in two innings. Hernandez gave up three earned runs in 2.2 innings. The Bulldogs Jill Compton earned the win, giving up two runs on five hits in 4.1 innings.
After winning the first two games of the Kajikawa Classic, the Toreros (2-3) dropped the next three. They will return to action on Friday when they begin the USD Tournament with a 6:30 p.m. game against Montana.
