Regals Pitching Sends Pioneers Searching for Offense

CLU hurlers near perfect in Tuesday sweep

Tuesday, Mar. 24, 2009 5:43 pm

Talia Ferrari nearly completed a perfect game in Tuesday's opening win.
Credit: Kevin Baxter Hi-res image

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Regals outhit the Pioneers 23-4 in sweeping Lewis & Clark (OR) College by scores of 9-1 and 6-0 at Hutton Field on Tuesday afternoon. Talia Ferrari had a perfect game through four innings and Lizzy Chacón completed her fourth shutout of the year in game two.

The Regals opened the day with three first inning runs following back-to-back RBI singles from Lizzie Novak and Ferrari. Novak would go on to plate a Regal in each at bat including a sacrifice fly and bases loaded walk.

Leading 7-1 in the middle of the fifth Cal Lutheran reeled off four straight hits including singles from Katy Bateman, Sara Lichtsinn and Brittany Ordos. April Rosas, who went 2-for-2 and walked, hit a game-ending two-run double as CLU run-ruled L&C in game one.

Ferrari's perfect game came to a halt to start the fifth hitting the first two batters and walked another. Pioneers Caitlin Relyea's bases loaded single ended her bid at a no-hitter and shutout. Ferrari battled back to strike out the next two batters and force a fielder's choice ground out to squash the threat.

Every CLU starter connected for at least one hit in the opener with Novak, Ferrari and Rosas driving in seven of the team's eight RBI.

Lewis and Clark (1-14) had its best chance to score in game two in its first team at bat with runners on second and third and one out. However Chacón notched one of her five strikeouts on the day and forced a lineout to end the inning.

Cal Lutheran took another first inning lead after Emily Robertson's double plated Rosas and Novak later scored on a Chacón single.

The Regals added four runs over the final three innings and connected for nine of its 12 hits in the game during that span. Rosas, Robertson, Sara Lichtsinn and Courtney Minton each went for a pair of base hits and drove in four runs combined.

Chacón (33-20) picked up her 33^rd career win tying her for sixth all-time with her older sister, Olivia Chacón who played from 2003-05. The younger went seven innings and allowed only three hits in today's win.

Pioneers senior Sheree Muira connected for a leadoff double in the seventh to record the only L&C extra base hit of the day.

Cal Lutheran (14-9) will host Pacific Lutheran (8-12) for a pair of contests on Wednesday, March 25 starting at 1 p.m.

Box Score (Game One): CLU 9, L&C 1 F/5
Box Score (Game Two): CLU 6, L&C 0 F