Unfortunate Math: Two Great Pitching Performances Equal One Win

DURANGO -- The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs got two of its best pitching performances of the season, but only one win, as the Mountain Lions split a doubleheader with the Fort Lewis Skyhawks Sunday at Aspen Field.

Stacy Ortiz threw her first shutout of 2008 as UCCS won the opener 2-0. Freshman Sarah McCauley allowed just five hits in the second game, but was victimized by sloppy defense as the Mountain Lions lost 5-2.

"The pitching was outstanding today," said UCCS coach Scott Peterson. "Those were the two best pitching performances we've had this year."

Stacy Haney went a combined 3-for-7 for UCCS (14-9, 7-5 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference).

Fort Lewis starter Cary Moone (1-1), who dominated Saturday, was also effective in Sunday's opener. The big right-hander held the Mountain Lions to two runs, one earned, on seven hits while striking out nine.

"That kid's good, there's no doubt about it," said Peterson of Moone. "That kid's going to win them a lot of ballgames."

But Ortiz was even better, throwing her first shutout of the season. The sophomore got better the more difficult the situation, stranding 11 Skyhawk runners, six of those in scoring position.

"I just played with confidence and knew that I could get the girls out who were up to bat," said Ortiz. "I knew that my teammates were there to make the plays."

She was right. Fort Lewis had the bases loaded in the sixth inning and two out when UCCS catcher Tasha Pagdilao threw over to first base to pick off Amber Massey.

"The bases were loaded and I was a little nervous," said Ortiz. "It was a great play."

And it wasn't the only one. With one out in the seventh, second baseman Rachel Hancock made a diving grab on a line drive off the bat of Amy Young. It was particularly important because Jenna Peters, who pounded the Mountain Lions all weekend, was on deck and could have been the potentially tying run.

"That was big," said Ortiz. "Peters beat us yesterday and we weren't going to let her beat us today. Having her up with two outs and nobody on is better that having her up with a runner on first."

The Mountain Lions got to Moone in the first inning. Sierra Green led the game off with a sharp single to left, advanced to second on Brianna Workman's walk, and then too third on a double play. Rachel Hancock delivered a clutch single to bring Green home.

In the fourth, Tasha Pagdilao reached on an error, stole second and scored on Katie Johnston's two-out single off the right-field fence.

The intensity UCCS had in Game 1 was lost in the first inning of the second game. Back-to-back errors by Sarah Cleland turned what should have been a fairly benign one-run dip into a daunting four-run hole. The Mountain Lions never recovered.

"Sarah threw very well; we had one bad inning," said Peterson. "Other than that, Sarah shut them down."

A sacrifice fly by Hancock and an RBI single by Amanda Hathaway in the fourth inning cut the deficit in half. UCCS had a runner on base in every inning but the second, but couldn't bring any others home, stranding eight for the game.

Mary Oppenheim (5-3) got the win for Fort Lewis (8-11-1, 4-4-1 RMAC). Moone pitched the final two innings to earn her second save in as many days.