Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Las Vegas, Nev. – On Feb. 8 the Cowgirls played in Las Vegas, Nev. for the 4th Annual Desert Stinger Softball Tournament. The Cowgirls have taken part in this tournament since its inception. They started the tournament with a game against Azusa Pacific University and followed with a game against Humboldt State University. In the first match up, the Cowgirls fell to the APU Cougars 7-5. Later in the day when they played the Humboldt State University the Cowgirls walked off as the 12-11 victors.
APU 7 – NMHU 5
It didn't take long for this game to get exciting, from the first inning to the seventh, APU and NMHU hustled it out for their first win of the tournament.
In the first inning, the Cougars found themselves in scoring position early. The Cougars were able to gain a 1-0 lead with no outs in the top of the first inning. After allowing three hits, Cowgirl pitcher
Jessica Brink tightened it up.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Cowgirls' fought back to claim the lead. With a two-run home run by Shelby Watt, the Cowgirls went in front of the Cougars 2-1.
With that home run, Shelby Watt would finish off the day with two RBIs. Shelby Watt went 2-3 from the plate in her attempt to gain a Cowgirl Victory.
The two teams tightened up their defense for the next few innings, but it was the Cougars who struck next. In the top of the fourth inning, the Cowgirls allowed four hits; allowing one batter to cross the plate making the score tied 2-2.
The Cowgirls were frustrated in the following inning because they could not cash-in on their hits. Despite their frustration, the Cowgirls were unable to hold the Cougars from scoring. In the top of the sixth inning the Cougars scored again reclaiming their lead 3-2.
The game got out of reach for the Cowgirls when the Cougars entered the seventh inning. Scoring four runs in their final inning, the Cougars found themselves in a commanding lead 7-2.
Entering the bottom of the seventh inning with a five-run deficit, the Cowgirls would attempt to rally. They tried to climb back into the lead as each of the Cowgirls' first two batters found themselves on base.
Tess Oliphant brought in the two runs with a three-run home run. At the end, the Cougars were able to hold on for the win by the final score of 7-5.
Tess Oliphant finished the game with a home run. Oliphant's late game surge assisted the Cowgirls with three RBIs, as she went 2-4 from the batter's box.
NMHU 12 – HSU 11
The Cowgirls' second game of the tournament was against the Humboldt State University Jacks. The game started out with the first run going to the Cowgirls, in the bottom of the first inning. Then in the top of the second inning, the Jacks answered with a run of their own, the score was 1-1.
The scoring was exchanged until the third inning when the two teams were tied up 5-5. Gaining the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Jacks found themselves facing a very hot Cowgirl team.
The Cowgirls were looking for a quick answer, but found it late in the fourth inning.
Paige Medina capitalized on a series of bad defensive plays by the Jacks, making the score 7-6 in favor of the Jacks.
Shelby Watts would hit a three-run home run later in the inning to put the Cowgirls on top 9-7.
The Jacks fought back, tying up the game 9-9 in the top of the fifth inning. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Cowgirls put in a team effort gaining another run. Then Erica Weick brought in two more runs with a double to left-center field. The Cowgirls pushed their lead to 12-9.
The Cowgirls held the Jacks to two runs in the top of the seventh inning. At the end of the seventh inning the score was 12-11. At the end of the day the Cowgirls get their overall record back to .500 (3-3).
Erica Wieck records her first win as a pitcher (1-0). The Chico, Calif. native, showed offensive skills as well, going 2-4 from the batter's box and adding three RBIs.
The Cowgirls will continue their season on Feb. 9, in Las Vegas, Nev., for the Desert Stinger Softball Tournament hosted by Montana State University – Billings. It is billed as the biggest NCAA DII Softball Tournament hosted by one team. The Cowgirls have been a part of this tournament since its inception. Their third game is against Notre Dame De Namur University and their fourth will see them face Northern Nazarene University. The first pitch is set for 11:30 a.m.
GO COWGIRLS!!!
Click
HERE for 2013 Desert Stinger Softball Tournament Information.
