Softball Wins Two At NFCA Leadoff Classic

Friday, February 27

Columbus, GA

2:30 PM

University of Washington

1-0

Army

0-1

Army

Washington

Photo by: Washington Athletics

February 27, 2004 | Softball

Box Score

By: Washington Athletics

Feb. 27, 2004

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ga.- The fourth-ranked Washington softball team (13-2) opened the NFCA Leadoff Classic with a pair of wins this afternoon against No. 15 Texas and Army. The Huskies topped the Longhorns 6-2 in the morning and mercy-ruled the Black Knights 8-0 in the nightcap.

Senior Rita Roach led the Dawgs against Texas, picking up three of Washington's hits, including a double and a pair of singles.

UW opened the game with an unearned run in the first inning. Dominique Lastrapes singled down the left field line and Roach followed with a bunt single. The runners advanced on an infield ground out and a Texas passed ball allowed Lastrapes to score.

Washington added another run in the second inning on one hit and two Longhorn errors. Senior Amanda Oleson led off with a double to left-centerfield and advanced to third base when the shortstop couldn't handle a hit by Courtney Jeffries. Jeffries stole second base, drawing a high throw from the catcher that wound up in centerfield and allowed Oleson to trot home.

The Huskies broke the game open in the third frame, scoring three runs on three hits. Roach doubled down the left field line and Dena Tyson drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Kristen Rivera followed with a double to right-centerfield to score Roach. Freshman Robyn Wike then doubled to left-centerfield to score Tyson and Rivera and give UW the 5-0 advantage.

Washington added an insurance run in the fourth inning when Sarah Hyatt hit a sacrifice fly to right field. The hit scored Lastrapes who had reached base on a single and had moved into scoring position on a Roach single and a walk to Tyson.

Texas awoke its bats in the seventh inning, scoring a pair of runs on three hits, including a two-RBI single by Sarah Wieszazak. UW hurler Tia Bollinger worked her way out of the jam with two ground outs to end the game. She earned her eighth win of the season (8-1) as she scattered five hits and struck out seven.

In the nightcap, Rivera's three-run home run in the first inning gave Washington the quick lead over Army en route to UW's fifth mercey-rule victory of the season.

Rivera homered in her next at-bat in the third inning- this time a two-run shot- to give the Huskies the 5-0 lead.

Washington scored three more runs in the fifth inning on one hit and two Army errors. Tyson led off the inning, reaching base safely after a Black Knight throwing error. An intentional walk to Rivera and a wild pitch moved the Huskies into scoring position. Sarah Hyatt then hit a sacrifice fly to right field and an Oleson single to centerfield scored Rivera. The game ended when Aimee Minor walked and eventually scored on a wild pitch to give UW the 8-0 win.

Junior Ashley Boek (5-1) picked up the victory as she gave up three hits and struck out nine.

The Huskies round out pool play with a 10 a.m. game Saturday against 11th-ranked Florida State. The championship portion of the tournament will begin a 4:30 p.m.