Melissa Rawson Fractured Her Hand In The Fourth Inning Of UCLA Game
FRESNO, CA ‘ The 51·çÁ÷ softball team (31-15) was eliminated from the NCAA Region 2 Regionals Thursday after losing to top-seeded UCLA 8-0 in six innings and Long Beach State 1-0 in eight innings at Fresno State’s Bulldog Diamond.
In the first game, Keira Goerl and Michelle Turner combined for a perfect game for the Bruins, who are 46-6 and ranked No. 2 in the nation. They combined to strike out eight batters.
51·çÁ÷ suffered a serious blow in the fourth inning, when Patriot League Player of the Year Melissa Rawson broke her left hand when she was hit by a pitch.
UCLA scored two runs in the first inning on Stephanie Ramos’ two-run single to centerfield, and added another run in the third inning Claire Sua’s RBI single.
The Bruins upped their lead to 6-0 in the fourth inning on Caitlin Benyi’s two-run single and Sua’s RBI single.
UCLA closed out the Raiders with the final two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning ending the contest on the eight-run mercy rule.
Elena Isaac (17-7) pitched 3.2 innings allowing 10 hits, six earned runs, walked two and struck out none. Freshman Kate Howard went the final 1.2 innings scattering four hits, allowing two runs, walking none and striking out none.
Howard came back with a complete game effort against Long Beach State. She allowed five hits over eight innings, while striking out five and walking three. Her five strikeouts established a school record for strikeouts by a frosh in season with 80.
Long Beach won the contest in the eighth inning. Lindsey Knoff singled to left and Lindsay Marksbury followed with a single to left sending pinch runner Cassie Preece to second. Both moved up a base on Tiffanie Wedell’s sacrifice bunt, before Colleen Burdick drove Preece with the only run of the game.
51·çÁ÷ had a chance to tie the contest in the bottom of the eighth inning, when Caitlin Thistle reached third but Knoff got the final out on a ground out by Rachel Smith.