The Tucson Invitational hasn't exactly been kind to the Jimmie softball team.
After winning a pair of games on Tuesday, the University of Jamestown fell to 2-6 at the tournament at 3-8 overall with a pair of losses on Wednesday.
The Jimmies fell in a tight 4-3 contest to the Aquinas College (Mich.) Saints in eight innings, which was followed with a five-inning 12-0 loss to the Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) Tigers. The Tigers were ranked No. 10 in the NAIA preseason poll, and they showed why on Wednesday.
Olivet Nazarene's Hannah Gardner went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate against the Jimmies. The second baseman, who hits third in the Tigers' order, belted a homerun, while driving in four runs and scoring three times.
The Jimmies mustered just five hits — all singles — against the Tigers' starting pitcher Virginia McAndrews, who went all five innings and fanned five Jimmie batters in the shutout. Hanna Dunnigan got the start for the Jimmies, but she was pulled with nobody out in the third.
Already leading 3-0, the Tigers scored seven more times in the third inning, with five of those runs being charged to Dunnigan and the other two coming with reliever Mandy Thiessen in the circle. Thiessen allowed just two earned runs and struck out three batters.
Cheryl Zendzik went 3-for-4 at the dish for the Tigers, as she collected a pair of doubles en route to a three-RBI day. Courtney Van den Bussche, Hattie Fullmer, Emily Newman, Cassie Simenson and Rachel Fowler all picked up hits for the Jimmies.
The University of Jamestown faces Olivet Nazarene again today at 3:30 p.m.
The Jimmies rallied for three runs over the final three innings against Aquinas College, but came up just short in the 4-3 loss. The Saints posted a 4-0 lead on the Jimmies and starter Emily Snow after five innings.
The Jimmies posted just four hits in the one-run loss, with Newman picking up a triple, an RBI and a run scored, while Cassie Simenson drilled a pinch-hit double. Van den Bussche, Fullmer and Autumn Wang each recorded a stolen base for the Jimmies.
The Saints banged out 12 hits with four players recording a multi-hit game. Torie Lowe did the most damage, going 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs.
The University of Jamestown has five games left to play in Tucson. Today, along with the Tigers, the Jimmies will face Peru State and Dordt College.
At Tucson, Ariz.
Wednesday's games
Aquinas College 4, Univ. Jamestown 3, 8 innings
Saints 101 020 00 — 4 12 3
Jimmies 000 002 10 — 3 4 2
Becca Shineldecker and Torie Lowe. Emily Snow and Megan Heriot.
W—Shineldecker. L—Snow. 2B—UJ, Cassie Simenson. 3B—UJ, Emily Newman. AC, Lexi Popma. SB—UJ, Courtney Van den Bussche, Hattie Fullmer, Autumn Wang.
Olivet Nazarene Univ 12, Univ. Jamestown 0
Tigers 307 02 — 12 10 0
Jimmies 000 00 — 0 5 2
Virginia McAndrews and Megan Butler, Olivia Perea. Hanna Dunnigan, Mandy Thiessen (3) and Sydney Greenlund.
W—McAndrews. L—Dunnigan. 2B—ON, Cheryl Sendzik 2. HR—ON, Hannah Gardner. SB—Justine Phillips 2.
Courtesy of Jamestown Sun Staff, 3/13/14
