Fairfield Falls to McNeese in Baton Rouge Regional
MAAC Sports
McNeese University – 6 | Fairfield University – 2
2017 NCAA Softball Championship – Baton Rouge Regional
Tiger Park
Baton Rouge, LA
Score by Innings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Fairfield 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 7 0
McNeese 0 0 4 2 0 0 X 6 6 1
Fairfield University (26-28, 11-9 MAAC) was defeated by McNeese University (43-17, 24-3 Southland), 6-2. With the loss, the Stags have been eliminated from the 2017 NCAA Softball Championship.
2017 MAAC Softball Championship MVP, junior Destinee Pallotto (13-13), took the loss for Fairfield. The junior tossed 2.2 innings, allowed four runs, earned, on four hits. She struck out one and walked three. Pallotto surrendered a three-run home run to Alexandria Saldivar with one out in the bottom of the third inning. The homer marked the first earned runs Pallotto allowed in 32.1 innings, dating to her first start of the MAAC Softball Championship on May 10 vs. Marist College.
Over Pallotto's last six starts, she is (4-2) with a 1.37 ERA (seven earned runs/35.2 innings pitched). She has pitched four complete games over her last six outings and struck out 22 batters.
Stags' senior catcher Tori Reed drove in both of the Stags' runs with a two-run home run to right-centerfield in the top of the third inning. The homer was Reed's sixth of the season, to lead the team. Sophomore infielder Courtney Hankins went 3-4 on the evening with three singles.
Junior Kristen Ball pitched 2.1 innings of hitless relief. Sophomore Karisa Hughen tossed 1.0 innings in relief of Pallotto. She allowed two runs, earned, on two hits, struck out none and walked two.
McNeese recorded its first hit of the Baton Rouge Regional when Justyce McClain singled to leftfield in the bottom of the third inning. The Cowgirls tallied four runs in the third inning on four hits. Saldivar's three-run home run gave McNeese a 3-2 lead and Tori Yanitor drove in a run with a single to centerfield for the fourth run of the frame.
The Cowgirls scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Carleigh Chaumont crossed the plate from third base when Saldivar was caught stealing at second base. Erika Piancastelli hit a solo home run to right-centerfield to give McNesse a 6-2 lead.
Rachel Smith (18-7) earned the win for McNeese. She pitched 4.1 innings, allowed two runs, earned, on five hits. Smith struck out two and walked three. Alexsandra Flores finished the game for the Cowgirls. She tossed 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, surrendered two hits, struck out four, and walked one.
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About the NCAA Softball Championship:
2017 NCAA Softball Tournament - Baton Rouge Regional
Friday, May 19, 2017
Game 1: 4:00 p.m. ET. – McNeese vs. Louisiana (ESPN3)
Game 2: 6:30 p.m. ET. – Fairfield vs. LSU (ESPN3)
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Game 3: 1:00 p.m. ET – Louisiana vs. LSU
Game 4: 3:30 p.m. ET – McNeese vs. Fairfield
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Game 5: TBD – McNeese vs. LSU
Game 6: TBD – Louisiana vs. Winner Game 5
Game 7: TBD – (if necessary) Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6