Feb. 20, 1998 LAS VEGAS -- The No. 3 Washington softball team jumped out to early leads and allowed no runs in its opening two games of the UNLV Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., on Friday, downing Hawaii, 3-0, and No. 18 Utah, 8-0, in six innings. UW is now 5-2 on the year and will face Utah State and host UNLV tomorrow at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. In the opener against the Wahine, the Huskies scored their first two batters for a quick 2-0 lead. Sophomore Rosie Leutzinger and freshman Kelly Hauxhurst both singled and stole second before an errant throw by the catcher brought them home. Freshman Christie Roseblad opened the second inning with a single and then circled the bases on errors by the center fielder and first baseman for her first run of the season. Sophomore pitcher Jennifer Spediacci allowed three hits and struck out two in her four innings for the win, upping her record to 2-1 on the season. Sophomore Jamie Graves relieved her in the fifth and held Hawaii hitless. Against the Utes, Graves picked up where she left off against UH. She allowed no hits but pegged one batter to spoil an otherwise perfect game. UW scored a run in the first when freshman Kelly Hauxhurst singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice by Graves and then raced home on an error by the pitcher. After three quiet innings, the Husky bats came alive again. Sophomore Erin Helgeland opened the sixth frame with a single and reached second on an error, setting up Rosenblads RBI single. Rosenblad made it to second when the Utes tried to throw out Helgeland, and then junior Jami Nyblod pushed Rosenblad to third. A passed ball brought the second baseman home. The sixth inning saw five straight Huskies score. Junior Becky Newbry doubled to begin the barrage of hits and runs. Senior Eve Gaws triple to the left field fence sent Newbry home, and freshman Denia Pisias shot helped pinch runner Amber Engen cross the plate. Singles by Helgeland and Rosenblad advanced Pisia to third. An error by the catcher sent Pisia and Helgeland home and Rosenblad to third. Nyblod hit an RBI single to score Rosenblad, and the game was called because of the mercy rule. Game One Washington 210 000 0 -- 3 5 1 Hawaii 000 000 0 -- 0 3 5 Jennifer Spediacci, Jamie Graves (5) and Jeanine Giordano; Kelly Gentle, Janelle Gonzales (4), Desi Duran (7) and Aiko Okamura, Dana Degan (3). WP-Spediacci (2-1). LP-Gentle. PB-Giordano. Game Two Utah 000 000 x -- 0 0 5 Washington 100 025 x -- 8 10 0 Kristin Arbogast and Sunny Smith; Jamie Graves and Jami Nyblod. WP-Graves (2-0). LP-Arbogast. 2B-Becky Newbry. 3B-Eve Gaw. |
