Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
#11 Washington
Softball Drops 1-0 Decision to #11 Washington
2/19/2006 2:17:54 PM | Softball
Lost opportunities doom Eagles
BATON ROUGE, La. -- The Eastern Michigan University softball team came up just short in its upset bid against No. 11 Washington falling 1-0, in the final day of competition at the LSU Tiger Classic. The Eagles had the tying run at third base with no outs in the seventh but failed to bring it in.
Shortstop Lauren Clark (Flat Rock, Mich.-New Boston Huron) was named to the 2006 Easton Tiger Classic All-Tournament Team for her play over the weekend.
With the loss, the Eagles finish the tournament with a 2-3 mark, with all three losses coming at the hands of nationally ranked teams. The Huskies improve to 8-2 on the season.
EMU opened the Tiger Classic with a devastating 9-0 loss to Washington, Feb. 17. Eagle pitching surrendered five first inning walks that lead to an early 8-0 Husky advantage. However, pitching was EMU’s strong suite in today’s defeat.
The hard luck loser was pitcher Michelle Lloyd (Akron, Ohio-Archbishop Hoban) who falls to 0-2 on the season. Lloyd scattered four hits in six innings but the lone run given up was enough, as the Eagle offense couldn’t get on the scoreboard leaving nine runners on base.
Outfielder Kelly Gulliver (Allen Park, Mich.-Allen Park) drew her second walk of the game to lead off the seventh inning. Gulliver stole second and advanced to third on wild pitch. However, she was picked-off after an Eagle strikeout.
EMU left two runners on base in the top of the first after shortstop Clark and first baseman Heather Strauss (Trenton, Mich.-Trenton) drew walks.
The Huskies scored their lone run of the game in the first inning after a walk and a single to centerfield.
The Eastern offense had another failed opportunity in the third. Gulliver walked to open the frame and later Strauss singled up the middle. Designated player Nikki Denman (Toledo, Ohio-Sylvania Southview) advanced to first off a base on balls to load the bases. All three runners were left on base after an EMU swinging strikeout.
The Eagles are in action again next weekend, Feb. 24-26, participating in the Mercer Invitational in Macon, Ga. EMU is slated for games with Austin Peay State, Boston University, George Mason, Morehead State and host Mercer.
