Jacob Jardel
Sports Editor
@JJardel_Writing
The Aggie softball team knocked Texas-Permian Basin (UTPB) off their perch with a pair strong outings on Feb. 3.
Cameron’s softball team opened the season with two commanding wins against the Falcons in a doubleheader at McMahon Field. CU allowed only three runs while driving in a total of 23 in the two games.
This win comes off the heels of a record 2015 campaign for the Black and Gold. The team looks to build upon team records in wins (41) and home runs (96), and they came out swinging in their first two games.
Game One
The Aggies played a well-rounded game en route to an 11-3 behind the arm of freshman pitcher Alyssa Osterdock (1-0).
After a scoreless opening inning, Cameron notched the first runs of the game and their season when junior outfielder Jessie Ingrum drilled a three-run homer over the center field fence, scoring seniors Chelsea DeLong and Sonora Zukerman.
UTPB answered back with two runs in the top of the third. After an Osterdock wild pitch scored the first run, Falcon shortstop Adrianna Berzoza singled up the middle to drive in one more run.
Cameron responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own off Zukerman’s two-run homer. It was the 32nd of her career.
Permian Basin added at the top of the fourth with a solo homer from designated hitter Alyssa Lene. But Cameron grounded any hopes of a Falcon comeback in the bottom of the fifth.
Junior infielder Annie Combs hit a bases-loaded single to drive in junior DH Paige Daino. Outfielder Nikki Horton singled in DeLong before a Macy McKay walk brought Ingrum in to score.
Senior shortstop Carly Allerheiligen knocked a single into left, bringing Horton and Combs in to score. Allerheiligen’s two RBI capped a five-run inning for the Aggies.
An insurance run off DeLong’s sixth-inning single to left sealed the 11-3 win for Cameron.
Osterdock dug in her talons on the mound, allowing three runs off four hits and two walks. She struck out six in five innings of work before junior Emily Wasinger took over in the sixth.
Game Two
The second half of the twinbill featured more of the same for a CU team that made the most of a shutout from Zukerman (1-0) to win 12-0.
Cameron started off swinging from the jump, driving in three runs in the bottom of the first. Daino’s sacrifice fly to center scored Horton and McKay, while Zukerman helped her own cause with a double that brought home junior Breezy McComas.
The offensive outburst continued in the bottom of the next inning. Combs hit her first homer of the season with a solo shot to right center. A few batters later, Allerheiligen crossed the plate on a double steal as McKay took second.
McKay would come home later on McComas’ two-run double a few batters later to cap a four-run second frame.
CU topped that score in the third inning with a five-run outburst – their second of the day.
Allerheiligen’s double to center brought in Combs and Paige Ramey to start the frame. Freshman infielder Abbey Warren singled down the line to score Allerheiligen.
Warren would score an unearned run of her own later in the inning when freshman outfielder Jordan Kisselburg reached on a Permian Basin error. Daino’s groundout to short would cap the scoring for the inning, with Kisselburg coming home to bring the score to 12-0.
The Aggies were able to roost for the rest of the game behind Zukerman’s three-hit complete game outing on the mound. She struck out four and walked one.
Cameron (2-0) will follow up this sweep and a trip to the Southeastern Arkansas Invitational with a weekend slate at the Lady Buff Invite from Feb. 12-14.