THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The Black and Orange opened the afternoon with a 6-0 shutout in game one of a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match-up against Cal Lutheran University, notching the 15th win of the season, marking the most wins in a season in program history. The home squad edged the Tigers in game two 6-5 to deny Oxy a season sweep of the Regals.
The Tigers entered the series tied with the 2000, 2002 and 2009 squads, having 14 victories to date, but the shutout clinched the best record in school history with 13 games to play, allowing much time to add to that number.
In the opening game, the Tigers handed the ball to pitcher to Brittany Vacura and she responded with a sterling performance from the mound, scattering five hits over seven innings to pick up the win.
Although her teammates didn't know it, a two run third inning was more than enough offense, as Jacqueline Shimamoto singled with two down in the second and Gabriela Chavez reached on an error, advancing Shimamoto to third. Ashley Noone cleared the bases with a double to left center, scoring two, and Vacura made the two run lead hold up the rest of the way.
But the Tigers weren't done on offense, tacking on another run in the fourth as Meghan Luera was brought home by a long double from Julia Nicholson.
Shimamoto opened the fifth with a triple down the right field line, followed up by a deep fly ball by Chavez to bring home the Tiger outfielder for the second time today.
Oxy looked like they were going to explode for several runs in the top of the sixth, loading the bases before Jerika Barron scored on a wild pitch and then Chavez added her second RBI, with a single to left to bring home Nicholson for the sixth run of the day, who tied the senior shortstop with two RBI's of her own in the opening game.
The Black and Orange cruised to a 6-0 win as Vacura picked up her ninth win of the season as Oxy won their third straight over the Regals in 2011.
Cal Lutheran looked determined to make sure the Tigers did not make it four straight when the teams locked up for game two.
Oxy opened quick with two runs in the top half of the first, as Shimamoto and Chavez both drew walks to open the game. Noone singled down the line to score Shimamoto while Chavez advanced to second, moving over to third on a sac bunt before Luera brought her home. Just like that the Tigers were up 2-0, and it looked as if game two would mirror game one.
The Regals had other ideas, striking back with two runs in the bottom half to tie things up, and Oxy knew they were in for a battle. Up to the challenge, Patricia Phillimeano doubled to right center in the top half of the second inning, and the Black and Orange used to sacrifices to bring her home and retake the lead at 3-2.
Momentum switched uniforms again, as Cal Lu fired back with three runs to in their half of inning, and when the scoreboard operator clicked over to inning three the Regals now led 5-3.
The defenses settled down, with neither team threatening over the next three innings until Cal Lu put the Tigers into a bigger hole with another score in the bottom of the sixth.
Down 6-3 in the top of the seventh, Oxy had just three outs left, but momentum was now wearing Black and Orange. The Tigers loaded the bases but with two down and needed some timely hitting to stay alive, and that's just what they got from Luera, who lined a shot to center field bringing home two Tigers. But Cal Lu would hold, striking out the final batter, to escape with the 6-5 win.
Oxy (15-10, 5-8) returns to action Friday, April 8th, as they take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at home for a make-up game and then regularly scheduled double header. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
