February 5, 1999
TUCSON, Ariz.- The fourth-ranked Washington softball team won its first two games of the 1999 campaign, downing New Mexico State, 2-1 and 5-0, on the opening day of the Pepsi Arizona Classic. The Huskies, now 2-0, face No. 24 Illinois-Chicago tomorrow at 10 p.m. in a twinbill.
The Roadrunners jumped out to a quick lead, scoring a run in the opening inning on two singles and a sacrifice bunt. After a quiet first frame, UW answered with two runs in the second. Senior All-American Becky Newbry singled and sophomore Kim DePaul sacrificed her to second. Junior All-American Jamie Graves walked before junior Jeanine Giordano knocked Newbry in. Sophomore Christie Rosenblad then doubled to drive Graves home. Washington managed just two hits the remainder of the game.
Graves opened the year with a complete-game win, striking out five and allowing no earned runs.
In the second game, the Husky bats came alive, pounding 11 hits, including two home runs. Junior All-American Jennifer Spediacci and freshman Bridget Wilcox combined for the shutout. Spediacci earned the win, going five innings, striking out six batters and allowing just one hit.
Newbry started the hitting in the second inning with a double to center field, and DePaul's third career home run made it 2-0. DePaul walked in the sixth and stole second before freshman Shannon Walsh's single to center brought DePaul home. In the final frame, sophomore Kelly Hauxhurst knocked a shot to left center and scored from first when freshman Jenny Topping's first collegiate hit cleared the center field fence.
Newbry went 4-for-7 on the day, crossing home plate twice, while Hauxhurst was 3-for-6.
"For day one I think we did fine. We had solid pitching and solid defense, and our hitting came through. We started out tight and timid, but as the game went along we loosed up and saw what we could do. We have a nice blend of power and speed. We just need to keep building on that.
Game One New Mexico State 100 000 0 1 4 1 Washington 020 000 x 2 5 2 Ryanne Bolduc and Adrian Nobles; Jamie Graves and Jeanine Giordano. WP-Graves (1-0). LP-Bolduc (0-1). 2B-UW: Rosenblad. |
