March 8, 2009

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO - - In an epic pitchers' duel between Utah State's Lindsey Benson and Cal Poly's Anna Cahn, the Mustangs came out on top with a 2-1 13-inning marathon win over the Aggies. The extra inning loss was Utah State's second of the Mustang Classic also falling to Sacramento State in 10 innings. With the loss, USU ends the tournament with a 2-3 record and an overall record of 5-15.

Senior Lindsey Benson was the hard-luck losing pitcher, falling to 0-8 with the loss. Benson pitched all 12.2 innings, allowing no earned runs and five hits. Anna Cahn, who no-hit the Aggies on March 7, was the winning pitcher, improving to 9-3. Cahn also allowed no earned runs and five hits. She also struck out 11 Aggies.

In the second inning, junior Simone Hubbard singled to start the inning. She eventually moved to second on a ground out by junior Nicole Rupp. But senior Aubrie Stroman struck out and sophomore Shasta Tyteca grounded out to end the Aggie threat.

Utah State also threatened in the fourth inning when freshman Rayna Bradshaw doubled to centerfield with one out, and Hubbard singled up the middle to put runners on the corners. But Cahn would pitch out of the inning with a pair of ground outs.

Neither pitcher allowed a run in the first seven innings of the game, sending the game into extra innings. The international tie-breaking rule was put into place and a runner was placed on second base to start each inning.

Utah State would strike first scoring a single run in the top of the eighth when junior Emily Reilly was placed on second to start the inning. With one out, freshman Gina Rawls would move the runner to the third with a ground out. An error by Mustang centerfielder Jessica Rogers would put Bradshaw on first and score Reilly to give USU the 1-0.

The lead would not last long as Cal Poly struck back in the bottom half of the eighth inning. Capri Ruiz started the inning on second base and was pinch ran for by Nicole Lund. A sacrifice by Jessica Rogers would move Lund to third. Pinch hitter Sara Kryza was clutch as she doubled to center field to scored Lund and tie the score.

Benson would pitch out of several jams after the eighth inning. With intentional walks, the Mustangs had the bases loaded in the final three innings. Benson and the Aggies were able to work out of the jams in both the 11th and 12th innings. In the 13th, Cal Poly was able to break through and plate the game-winning run. Cristen Lee started the inning on second base and moved to third on a sacrifice by Stephanie Tam. Melissa Pura and Cahn were intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Krysten Cary would strike out looking for the second out of the inning. But Stephanie Correia singled through the right side to scored Lee and give Cal Poly the 2-1 lead.

The Aggies will remain in the Golden State to take on Cal State Bakersfield on Monday, March 9 at 2 p.m. MT.

Team (13 Innings) R H E
Utah State        1 5 0
Cal Poly          2 5 1