HAYWARD, Calif. – In an attempt to get away early from the 3-day NorCal Classic, Azusa Pacific instead let a game get away, squandering a 5-run lead and falling to tournament host Notre Dame de Namur, 8-7, in the final game.
Azusa Pacific appeared to be headed toward a tournament sweep by running out to a 6-1 lead through 4 innings of play. Shawna Paxton's third-inning grand slam followed by Cassi Sweeney's run-scoring double in the fourth appeared to be all Azusa Pacific needed. Pitcher Kris Franks was mowing down Argonauts, striking out 6 in the first 4 innings while allowing just one unearned run.
However, the wheels fell off over the final 3 innings of play. Notre Dame scored 4 in the fifth inning to pull to within a run at 6-5. The Argos scored 2 of the runs with 2 outs in the inning. After Azusa Pacific added what appeared to be an insurance run in the sixth inning, Notre Dame came back to steal the victory in the bottom of the seventh.
The Argonauts opened the frame with 4 straight hits, including 2 doubles to pull back to within a run at 7-6. Cougar freshman pitcher Camille Hundley settled down to induce 2 ground ball outs, including one that cut down the potential game-tying run at the plate. However, she couldn't get the all-important final out. Nicole Stephens laced a 2-out double that scored Anna Garza and Nicole Guilani to cap the comeback and hand Azusa Pacific its only loss of the NorCal Classic.
The Cougars had just 8 hits on the day, the only time in the 5-game tournament in which they didn't reach double-digits in hits.
Justine Barnett finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with 3 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Tami Carter was 3-for-3 on the day but did not score.
Azusa Pacific returns to Southern California with a 7-4 record and opens GSAC play Tuesday at Concordia for a 1:30 p.m. doubleheader.
