University of Washington
16-4
Santa Clara Invitational: Howard
1-8
Washington Knocks Off Howard, Santa Clara For Two-Win Day
February 28, 2015 | Softball
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The No. 17-ranked Washington softball team bounced back from a tough loss yesterday with a strong performance on Saturday, led in the circle by freshman Kristin Cochran who recorded the 34th no-hitter in program history against Howard. The Huskies also received solid performances at the plate from sophomore Ali Aguilar who had a team-leading six RBI and senior Kelli Suguro who recorded four hits in a doubleheader sweep against Howard and Santa Clara on day one of the Santa Clara Invitational. The Huskies improve to 17-4 on the season.
Cochran (2-0) made the start in the circle, tossing a no-hitter as the offense backed her up to the tune of a 12-0 victory against Howard. Fellow freshman Julia DePonte led the Dawgs at the plate with four RBI and two hits, including her first collegiate triple.
The Huskies struck first in the third after DePonte drew a walk to lead off the inning and Aguilar belted a two-run home run to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead.
Washington used three hits, four errors and four wild pitches to explode for 10 runs in the fourth. Suguro was hit by pitch to open the frame and advanced to second on Trysten Melhart's bunt-single. Krystal Aubert loaded the bases with a walk before Suguro scored off a wild pitch. DePonte then singled to score two Husky runs. The Dawgs went on to score seven more runs, highlighted by DePonte's second hit of the inning, a bases clearing triple.
The Bison offense had no answer for Cochran in the circle as the Huskies ran away with the 12-0 run-rule victory. Howard starter Janessa Flynn (1-4) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on two hits and three walks in 2.0 innings pitched.
In the second game of the day, Washington got on the board quickly to take the early, first-inning lead against Santa Clara. For the third time this season, Aguilar hit a lead off home run to give the Huskies an early advantage. With that home run, she now has six on the year, which is second best on the team.
The Huskies tacked on two more runs in the fourth after DePonte walked and Suguro singled. Tryten Melhart hit scored the pair when the throw got by the first baseman and Washington went on top, 3-0.
The Broncos used a single and a double to score a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning, but the Huskies came right back in the fifth when Gano bombed her eighth home run of the season, a two-run shot to put the Huskies on top, 5-1.
Howard used a trio of singles in the sixth to score their second run of the game, but the Husky offense proved to be too potent, scoring six more times in the seventh inning to run away with the 11-2 win.
Stangel spurred another Husky surge in the seventh, hitting a lead off double before Kimberlee Souza drew a walk to force a pitching change. It worked out in Washington's favor as the Dawgs went on to hit five straight singles and plate six more runs.
Washington is back in action tomorrow at the Santa Clara Invitational, playing the same two teams again. The Huskies play Howard at 10 a.m. and Santa Clara at 12:15 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cochran, Kristin (2-0)
L: FLYNN,J (1-4)
Base Running:
CS: DAVIS,A 1
HBP: BALLARD,I 1
Batting:
3B: DePonte, Julia 1
HR: Aguilar, Ali 1
RBI: Aguilar, Ali 3 ; DePonte, Julia 4
SH: Gano, Courtney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Aguilar, Ali 1 ; Lahners, Kylee 1 ; Gano, Courtney 1 ; Meggs, Kelly 1 ; Suguro, Kelli 2 ; Melhart, Trysten 2 ; Aubert, Krystal 2 ; DePonte, Julia 2
SB: Van Zee, Taylor 1 ; Lahners, Kylee 1 ; DePonte, Julia 2
HBP: Suguro, Kelli 2
