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CU sweeps NSU, takes 3 of 4
LAWTON, Oklahoma (March 19) – The Cameron Aggie softball team (15-18, 3-5 LSC-North) took care of business this afternoon at Cameron Field and has now won three of their last four games. Today CU hosted the RiverHawks of Northeastern State (13-13, 4-7 LSC-North) for the second half of a home and home series. This afternoon’s double-header was originally scheduled for Monday of this week but was postponed due to inclement weather.
“We played better and had timely hitting,” Head Coach Richie Nye said. “More importantly, our pitchers made big pitches when we needed them and got us out of some big jams.”
Cameron committed 8 errors in Saturday’s double-header and only 1 all of this afternoon. Additionally, the Aggies totaled 35 hits in the two-day, four-game series.
“Our lack of errors was a big factor in the wins,” Coach Nye said. “We got good pitches, didn’t commit many errors, and hit the ball well. We put them together and had success. Now we need to keep doing that.”
The first half of the series took place last Saturday in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. In the first game between CU and NSU, Cameron broke a three-inning scoreless tie in the top half of the fourth inning to go up 3-0. The RiverHawks bounced back an inning-later to take a 4-3 lead which eventually lasted to the final inning. Impressive hitting in the top of the seventh inning gave the Aggies the come from behind win, 5-4.
Sophomore pitcher Ashton McBride recorded the complete game victory after going all 7.0 innings and facing 38 batters. She allowed 4 runs on 8 hits and walked 7 batters.
In the second game of the Saturday double-header the Aggies came out firing with 8 runs in the first three innings. The RiverHawks tied the game 8-8 after a five-run fourth inning, and then again at 11-11 after the sixth inning. CU and NSU were tied going into extra-innings when an RBI single by junior infielder Jenna Boren put Cameron in front 12-11 and three outs away from a victory. NSU eventually won the game 14-12 thanks to a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the eighth inning.
In front of a great crowd this afternoon at Cameron Field, the Aggies once again put on an impressive show both offensively and defensively. The first contest saw CU in the lead early, but facing defeat late in the game. Cameron was ahead 3-2 after the third frame, but a three-run fourth inning put NSU in front going into the seventh and final inning. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, junior outfielder Shareena Pulse came up huge and hit a monstrous homerun over the leftfield fence to give Cameron the win.
The RiverHawks led for nearly the first three innings of today’s series finale when Shareena Pulse once again came through in the clutch with another towering homerun that gave CU the 3-2 lead. That ended up being all Cameron needed as the team went on to win the game 5-3 to complete the double-header sweep of NSU.
“Shareena had a heck of a day,” Coach Nye said. “She showed what she’s capable of doing. She is finally getting hot and has been tough, tough at the plate. She will help us carry the momentum after today’s wins.”
Ashton McBride and junior pitcher Giselle Guzman both recorded complete game victories today after facing 34 and 31 batters, respectively. McBride allowed 4 runs on 12 hits while Guzman gave up 3 runs on 6 hits. Both pitchers also recorded 2 strikeouts and 3 walks.
“We hadn’t won a home game until today and it good to finally win at home,” Coach Nye said. “To win like that at home is much better because our home fans get to see it. It feels good.”
The Aggies travel to Kansas this week for a pair of road double-headers. Tomorrow (March 20) Cameron battles Newman University in Wichita, Kansas, at 2:00pm. Then on Friday (March 21) CU plays Ft. Hays State in Hays, Kansas, at 1:00pm. Cameron’s next home match-up is on Tuesday, March 25, at 1:00pm against the Northwest Missouri Bearcats.
For those unable to attend home softball games this season, be sure to follow along on the Cameron Athletics website: goaggies.cameron.edu. Live updating statistics are available by clicking on the ‘Live Stats’ link, and a live video and audio stream of the softball action is available free of charge by clicking on the ‘Aggie Video Network’ link.
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