Women's Softball
2/15/2008 - Royals Split to Open Season
Riverside, CA- Hope International opened their 2008 season on the road at La Sierra. The Royals easily won the first game 10-0 but lost the second game 3-1. Freshman Alexis Hurley connected for a homerun in her first collegiate plate appearance. Sophomore Brittney Hoban also added a homerun.
In Game 1, the Royals (1-1) did everything correct as they banged out 10 runs on 13 hits with no strikeouts. The top of the lineup, featuring Cassandra Lewein and Hoban, was a combined 5-7 with a homerun, double, 5 runs scored, and 5 runs driven. In the middle of the lineup, Hurley drove in 3 runs with her homerun while Senior Danielle Marinacci had an rbi single. The bottom of the lineup was a combined 4-7 with 2 walks and 3 runs scored.
In the pitching circle, Sophomore Sabrina Garcia struggled in the first inning by giving up the only hit of the game she allowed to go along with 2 walks. However, she wiggled out of the bases loaded jam with a groundout. From that point on, Garcia was on cruise control against La Sierra (1-3) as she only allowed two more walks in separate innings. She finished with 5 strikeouts as her defense played flawless behind her.
Unfortunately, Game 2 was almost the complete opposite regarding offensive output. The Royals pounded out 11 hits but managed only one run. Marinacci went 3-3 to finish the day 4-6. She scored the only run for the Royals on an rbi single from Allison Hofstetter in the second inning.
Garcia was called on again to pitch. She allowed 3 earned runs on 8 hits while striking out 4 and walking only one in six innings of work. The defense again went errorless behind her.
The Royals return to action on Tuesday on the road against La Verne. First pitch for the evening double header is scheduled for 5:00 pm.