Feb. 21, 1998 LAS VEGAS, Nev.--The Washington softball team recorded two more wins on Saturday at the UNLV Classic to be undefeated in the tournament going into Sundays game against No. 8 Colorado State. The Huskies shellacked Utah State, 14-3, and then stopped host UNLV 4-2 to up their record to 7-2 on the year. Washington came storming out in the first inning against Utah State, sending 11 batters to the plate and coming away with seven runs off three hits. The Aggies put more Husky runners on base than UW did, as five made it to first on two walks, two hit by pitches and a fielders choice. Sophomore Rosie Leutzinger led off with a single and then stole second just before freshman Kelly Hauxhurst was hit by a pitch. Junior Becky Newbry made it to second when the fielder attempted to throw Leutzinger out at home. The next three batters--freshman Christie Rosenblad, sophomore Erin Helgeland and freshman Kim DePaul--either were walked or hit by a pitch with two outs, and then senior Leah Francis singled Rosenblad and Helgeland home. Leutzinger returned to the plate for the second time and, with bases loaded, opted to forego her usual slap hit and instead belted a two-RBI triple past the right fielder. The inning ended with the Huskies on top, 7-0. Both Utah State and Washington collected two runs in the second. At the top of the frame, Aggie Emily Wilson struck out but reached first on a dropped ball. Andrea Madoski singled and then made it to third on an error and a single by Kristi Hildreth before Annie Roberts sacrificed her home with a hit to left field. UWs sophomore Jamie Graves was hit by a pitch and Newbry singled to left field, putting both in position for Helgeland to register two RBI on her single. The third inning saw the Huskies earn three more runs. Leutzinger singled and stole second, as did junior Jami Nyblod. Graves knocked Leutzinger home and then Newbry registered her second RBI of the day when Nyblod scored. Gaw spanked the ball to left field for a single, and sophomore pinch runner Angela Bennett crossed home plate off a Helgeland double. UW allowed one more run in the top of the fourth off three singles, but then added two more of their own in their final at bat. Freshman Michelle Yarbrough and Hauxhurst both singled, and then Graves and Newbry brought them home, respectively, for the final runs. The Huskies had 14 runs and 13 RBI off 12 hits, led by Leutzingers 3-for-3 performance. Gaw pitched the win, allowing eight hits but only one earned run. The 3 p.m. matchup against UNLV was a tight one the entire game. After a scoreless first inning, UWs offense came alive with three runs. Newbry led off with a single and then stole second, but in the process she dislocated the same finger she broke a year ago to the day at this same tournament. Sophomore Jennifer Spediacci entered the game for Newbry and was driven home by Francis. Rosenblad and junior Jeanine Giordano both walked, and Leutzinger singled with a shot to left field for two more RBI. UNLV answered with two runs to finish the inning. June Crandall and Kelly DeArman singled and were hit home off singles by Steph Italiano and Keao Chang. Then both teams bats were quiet until the top of the seventh. Francis made it to first on a fielders choice, advanced to second off a Leutzinger single and then to third on a wild pitch, before a pinch-hitting Jami Nyblods shot to the short stop sent Francis home. Graves (3-0) pitched 5 1/3 innings for the win before switching places with Spediacci, who was at first. Graves allowed eight hits and two runs while striking out three. Spediacci also wiffed three batters without getting hit. Game One Utah State 020 10x x -- 3 8 1 Washington 723 2xx x -- 14 12 1 Kelly Martin, Kelly Warner (2) and Emily Wilson; Eve Gaw and Melissa Downs, Denia Pisia (4). WP-Gaw (2-1). LP-Martin. 2B-Erin Helgeland, Kim DePaul; Emily Wilson. WP-Martin. PB-Pisia. HBP-Erin Hauxhurst (Martin), DePaul (Martin), Jamie Graves (Warner). Game Two Washington 030 000 1 -- 4 5 1 UNLV 020 000 0 -- 2 8 2 Jamie Graves, Jennifer Spediacci (5) and Jeanine Giordano; Brandi Isgar, Kelly DeArman (3) and June Crandall. WP-Graves (3-0). LP-Isgar. WP-DeArman. |
