LA JOLLA, Calif. – Saint Martin's bats explode for their first win of the 2017 season over Dominican University of California, 11-6.
The Saints (1-1) set the tempo of the game in the bottom first after
Lindsay Miller,
Mary Dettling and
Tessani Dixon loaded the bases on singles.
Kim Nelson drove in the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring L. Miller.
After
Corrie Wilson walked,
Sabrina Hicks cleared the bases on a triple to center field, giving SMU a 4-0 lead.
Paige Miller added to the lead on a single, scoring Hicks, that capped off a five run first inning.
Dominican (0-2) battled back to come within striking distance in the third inning after scoring four runs, highlighted by a double driving home two runs. The next inning the Penguins tied the game on a home run and later took a 6-5 lead on a throwing error.
SMU responded in the bottom half of the fourth inning after Dettling doubled to right, scoring both Diuco and
Alyssa Slate, giving the Saints a 7-6 lead.
Lindsay Miller later scored in the inning on a single from Wilson, her first RBI of the year.
In the fifth inning, the Saints added a couple of insurance runs on a triple by L. Miller, plating P. Miller and Diuco. Dettling's second double of the game scored L. Miller and gave the Saints the 11-6 victory over Dominican.
Diuco led-off for the Saints, going 2-4 with two runs while L. Miller went 3-3 with three runs and two RBIs. Dettling and Hicks both drove in three runs on a combined five hits. Slate, P. Miller, Wilson and Dixon each tallied one hit.
Lauren Maley got the start but was chased out the game after 2.2 innings, giving up four runs on nine hits and one walk.
Jessica O'Toole came in for relief and finished out the game on 4.1 innings, three hits and two runs.
As a team the Saints ended with 11 runs on 14 hits, five reaching base on walks and only striking out twice. Seven Saints were left on base.
"It was a nice win with a lot of offense, especially from the top of the order.
Jessica O'Toole came in the game and did a great job on the mound" said head coach
Rick Noren. "Hopefully we'll clean things up for tomorrow and play at a high level for the entire game".
Up Next: SMU faces both UCSD and Dominican University again tomorrow at 11:30 am and 2 pm PST in La Jolla, California.
