The Pioneer softball team ended the Northwest Conference portion
of their season with a pair of losses at Pacific Lutheran Sunday,
falling 9-3 (box
score) and 16-0 (box score). Jamie
Moon had two hits for the Pioneers. Kim Kittell reached base five
times.
After getting runners to third base in the first two innings but
still trailing 2-0, the Pioneers finally crossed the threshold,
scoring a run in the third. Laura Parker (junior, Healdsburg,
Calif.) singled to right to lead off the inning, coming home to
score on a single to left by Karyne Sander (senior, Grants Pass,
Ore.).
Trailing 6-1 in the fourth inning, the Pioneers scored two runs
to get back into the game, Michaela Satter (freshman,
McKinleyville, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to lead things off. Kim
Kittell (sophomore, Tillamook, Ore.) reached on an error, the third
time in the game she forced the Lutes into committing an error.
Sheree Miura (junior, Kailua, Hawaii) walked to load the bases.
With two and the bases still loaded, Sara DiSabatino (senior,
Pleasanton, Calif.) walked to drive in a run. Jamie Moon
(sophomore, Baker City, Ore.) singled to center to plate the
Pioneers third run of the game. The Lutes got a groundout to end
the Pioneer threat.
The Lutes scored one more run in the fifth and two in the sixth
to win 9-3. Kelly Vega (sophomore, Beaverton, Ore.) took the loss,
pitching three innings, allowing six earned runs, striking out two,
walking none.
The Pioneers closed out the Conference portion of their schedule
with an ugly 16-0 loss. The Lutes scored 12 runs in the fourth
inning, eight earned, on an inning where they sent 17 batters to
the plate that included a grand slam.
The Pioneers' best scoring chance came in the third. Charlotte
Skeffington (senior, Vashon Island, Wash.) singled through the hole
at second. Kim Kittell slapped a ball to third. Jamie Moon singled
up the middle to load the bases with two outs, but a comebacker to
the mound kept the Pioneers off the scoreboard.
The Pioneers will finish the season 2-26 in eighth place in the
Conference.
The Pioneers have two non-Conference games remaining, a
doubleheader Thursday at Corban College in Salem.
