Utah sweeps San Diego

USD softball drops to 7-8 on the season after back-to-back losses at home

Chris Spiering / Sports Editor / The USD Vista

The University of San Diego softball team hosted University of Utah as the Utes came into town for a double-header against the Toreros Monday afternoon. After losing both games, USD fell to 7-8 on the season while Utah improved to 12-2. 

Game one lasted over three hours as the Utes took a 6-4 lead in the ninth inning with a two-run homerun over the left-center field fence. That lead would be enough for Utah as USD went hitless in the bottom half of the inning, which closed out the game. 

Both teams were scoreless until the top of the third inning where the Utes scored three runs off a triple by third baseman Ellessa Bonstrom. 

USD would respond with four runs in the fourth inning. First-year designated player (DP) Clareese Santiago got the scoring started with a two RBI single, followed by a triple from sophomore first baseman Lauren Hendrickson to tie the game at three. Junior shortstop Halle Kyler then doubled to take the lead 4-3, and the Toreros had a lead going to the fifth inning.

Utah would find a way to tie it up in the top half of the fifth inning as the runner reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring a run. 

After three scoreless innings, the game went into extra innings where the Utes capitalized off a leadoff double in the ninth. Bonstrom hit a two-run shot to take the lead, which would seal the game one for Utah, 6-4. 

Senior second baseman Sara Silveyra discussed the emotions of losing in a heartbreaking fashion. 

“We were right there with them the entire time,” Silveyra said. “We just didn’t take advantage of the opportunities we had and I think we could have executed a lot better. But we were right there the entire time.” 

Despite losing a close game to a fierce component, Head Coach Jessica Pistole noticed her team’s efforts in the loss. 

“I think we have battled through some tough pressure situations,” Pistole said. “The reality is we didn’t execute with our opportunities. We just need to be better in those areas and we can certainly come out on top in those games.”

Game two was a bit of a different story, compared to the efforts in game one. Sophomore pitcher Madison Earnshaw was on the mound for the Toreros. It was a smooth start of the game for Earnshaw as she got through the first two innings unfazed.  

The top third inning was led off by a double by the Utes. The scoring started for Utah when there was an infield single hit to Earnshaw and the runner beat the throw to first. It was a heads up play by the Utes’ base runners as the runner scored from second base and the player who hit the ball advanced to second base. A few batters later, Earnshaw registered her third strikeout of the game — which ended the inning leaving the bases loaded. The score was 1-0 after the third inning. 

Earnshaw was back out for the fourth inning where it escalated quickly. She started the inning by loading the bases without registering an out. A two-run single by Elicia Espinosa made the score 3-0. The next at bat was a grounder to second base where Silveyra tried throwing the runner out at home, but was called safe. The score was 4-0 as there were still zero outs. 

That would be all for Earnshaw as she was replaced by first-year pitcher Courtney Rose. Earnshaw went 3.0 innings giving up six hits and five earned runs. 

The Utes crossed one more run in after the ground out to Silveyra; where this time she took the easy out instead of forcing a throw to home. The score was 5-0 going into the bottom of the fourth inning. 

USD got their first base runner in the fourth inning after first-year catcher Elisa Princic got plunked on the foot. She would then advance to third base after two past balls, but the Toreros couldn’t get Princic home. 

After a lead-off double in the fifth inning, Utah capitalized with two runs off back-to-back singles upping the score to 7-0.  

In the bottom half, the Toreros registered their first hit of the game with a single to the left side of the infield by Hendrickson. This was followed by an error by the Utes’ shortstop and USD had two runners on base for the first time in the game. But, sophomore third baseman Sophia Bjerk ended the inning with a ground out to third. 

After Utah scored their eighth run of the game in the sixth inning, USD was forced to score a run or else they would lose off the “run-rule,” also known as the mercy rule. 

Senior catcher Madison Casiano attempted to rally the Toreros in the bottom of the sixth with a single to center, but two-straight groundouts secured the Utes run-rule victory. 

Pistole thought that the team could have played better in game two, despite the long and intense game one.

“I don’t think we really showed up much to play that second game,” Pistole said. “Offensively, (the pitcher) was throwing the same pitch and we weren’t making adjustments. I think we need to be able to create that energy and fire regardless of what the other team is doing.”  

The Toreros now sit at a losing record (7-8) so far in the season but Silveyra knows that this record does not define the team.

“I think we are going to bounce back just fine,” Silveyra said. “This team has a lot of fight and I think losing like this is actually going to push us to be better in the future.” 

San Diego is back in action on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. The Toreros take on Long Beach State to open up the San Diego Classic at the USD Softball Complex.