LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Patricia Phillimeano snapped the Tigers losing streak through Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with one swing of the bat. With the bases loaded and Oxy trailing in game one, Phillimeano smashed a pitch down the left field line, that three RBI swing led the Tigers to a 3-1 win in the opener against the Sagehens. But Pomona Pitzer responded in game two to pick up a split with a 4-0 victory.
Brittany Vacura took the mound in game one and allowed just five hits in seven innings of work, but one mistake in the top of the second was driven over the left field fence, and that one run looked like it might be the difference in the ball game.
But in the bottom of the sixth the Black and Orange offense came alive, as Jacqueline Shimamoto, Gabriela Chavez and Ashley Noone opened the inning with back to back to back singles. Setting up a dramatic at bat by Phillimeano who cleared the bases with her double down the line, turning a one run deficit into a two run lead, and putting Oxy just three outs away from snapping an eight game skid through SCIAC play.
Vacura shut the door in the seventh to pick up the complete game win as the Tigers moved one full game ahead of Pomona Pitzer in the SCIAC standings.
The Sagehens responded in game two by scoring four runs off Amber Garland, but Kathleen McLain came in and shut out the Sagehens in the final three and two thirds innings to keep the Tigers within striking distance.
Unfortunately the Black and Orange could not respond in game two. Their best scoring chance came in the bottom of the sixth, as McLain singled to open the inning, Shimamoto then reached on a fielder's choice followed by a Chavez single. But the Tigers stranded both runners, and fell to the Sagehens (15-20, 5-15) 4-0 in the finale.
The Tigers (16-18, 6-16) close out 2011 on Saturday, April 23rd when they host the University of La Verne. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.
