 |  |
May 30, 2010
Roadrunners end season with 7-2 loss to Hawaii-Pacific
HPU Ends Metro State's Season in World Series Semifinals
Courtesy Andy Schlichting, Metro State Sports Information Director
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - No. 3 Hawaii Pacific put together 14 hits off No. 4 Metro State as the Sea Warriors beat the Roadrunners 7-2 on Sunday in the NCAA Division II College Softball World Series semifinals to eliminate Metro State. HPU will advance to the championship game on Monday against No. 2 Valdosta State (Ga.). Metro State's season ends with a 53-6 record, the best record in just the third year of the softball program. Hawaii Pacific improved to 49-8.
Jennessa Tesone connects on
a two-run single in the third inning.
The Sea Warriors frustrated the Metro State defense, stringing together 14 hits, despite few hard hit balls. The lone extra-base hit off Christie Robinson was a double that was lost in the sun by the left fielder. The 14 hits allowed was a season-high for a Metro State opponent and for Robinson.
The Roadrunners threatened in the top of the first as Sarah Rusch singled up the middle with one out and Tara Mickelson reached on a dropped fly ball by the right fielder. But a line out to short and a grounder back to the circle ended the inning.
HPU put together a threat in all six innings it batted and struck first in the bottom of the first inning. The Sea Warriors connected for four singles in the first inning to score once with pitcher Sherise Musquiz helping her own cause with a bases loaded single up the middle to score Casey Sugihara. They put runners on second and third in the second, but Robinson got a weak tapper back to the circle for the third out.
Lauren Hainlen led off the third inning with a base hit to left field. After a fielder's choice by Amber Roundtree, Rusch singled up the middle to put runners on first and second. A ground out by Mickelson moved Roundtree and Rusch up a base before Jennessa Tesone hit a sharp single up the middle, scoring two runs. They were the first two earned runs Musquiz has given up in the World Series.
Hawaii Pacific again put runners on second and third with two outs in the third, but another grounder to the circle ended the threat. The Sea Warriors tied the game in the fourth when Chante Tesoro scored on a ground out to Robinson and took a 3-2 lead on an infield hit by Musquiz with two outs, scoring Sugihara from third.
Ciera Senas put HPU up 4-2 in the fourth with a single up the middle with two outs that plated pinch runner Pomaikai Kalakau.
Metro State used a single by Tesone and a walk to Molly Clark to try to get a rally going in the sixth, but failed to score when Kellie Nishikida hit a fly ball down the left field line to end the inning.
The defense fell apart for the Roadrunners in the bottom of the inning as they committed three errors and lost another ball in the sun that ended up as a double, helping HPU to a three-run inning.
Hainlen singled with one out in the seventh, but a pair of fly balls to left ended the season for the Roadrunners.
Musquiz earned the win for the Sea Warriors to improve to 33-3 this year, scattering seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts. She was also 2-for-4 at the plate with three runs batted in and a run scored.
The Sea Warriors frustrated the Metro State defense, stringing together 14 hits, despite few hard hit balls. The lone extra-base hit off Christie Robinson was a double that was lost in the sun by the left fielder. The 14 hits allowed was a season-high for a Metro State opponent and for Robinson.
The Roadrunners threatened in the top of the first as Sarah Rusch singled up the middle with one out and Tara Mickelson reached on a dropped fly ball by the right fielder. But a line out to short and a grounder back to the circle ended the inning.
HPU put together a threat in all six innings it batted and struck first in the bottom of the first inning. The Sea Warriors connected for four singles in the first inning to score once with pitcher Sherise Musquiz helping her own cause with a bases loaded single up the middle to score Casey Sugihara. They put runners on second and third in the second, but Robinson got a weak tapper back to the circle for the third out.
Lauren Hainlen led off the third inning with a base hit to left field. After a fielder's choice by Amber Roundtree, Rusch singled up the middle to put runners on first and second. A ground out by Mickelson moved Roundtree and Rusch up a base before Jennessa Tesone hit a sharp single up the middle, scoring two runs. They were the first two earned runs Musquiz has given up in the World Series.
Hawaii Pacific again put runners on second and third with two outs in the third, but another grounder to the circle ended the threat. The Sea Warriors tied the game in the fourth when Chante Tesoro scored on a ground out to Robinson and took a 3-2 lead on an infield hit by Musquiz with two outs, scoring Sugihara from third.
Ciera Senas put HPU up 4-2 in the fourth with a single up the middle with two outs that plated pinch runner Pomaikai Kalakau.
Metro State used a single by Tesone and a walk to Molly Clark to try to get a rally going in the sixth, but failed to score when Kellie Nishikida hit a fly ball down the left field line to end the inning.
The defense fell apart for the Roadrunners in the bottom of the inning as they committed three errors and lost another ball in the sun that ended up as a double, helping HPU to a three-run inning.
Hainlen singled with one out in the seventh, but a pair of fly balls to left ended the season for the Roadrunners.
Musquiz earned the win for the Sea Warriors to improve to 33-3 this year, scattering seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts. She was also 2-for-4 at the plate with three runs batted in and a run scored.
