Softball Falls to North Dakota, San Diego to Open San Diego Classic

Friday, February 28

San Diego, CA / USD

5:00 PM ET

Brown University

1-5

University of North Dakota

5-11

North Dakota

Brown

Softball Falls to North Dakota, San Diego to Open San Diego Classic

2/28/2020 9:01:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Brown University softball fell to the University of North Dakota, 7-4, and the University of San Diego, 6-2, on Friday in its first day of competition at the San Diego Classic at the USD Softball Complex.

The Bears (1-6) pulled within 5-4 before dropping the decision to the Fighting Hawks (5-11) in game one prior to remaining within 5-2 of the host Toreros (9-9) in the eventual setback in game two.

"We played hard in both games today but just didn't make enough plays to win either game," Brown head coach Kate Refsynder said. "We'll have three more opportunities this weekend to bounce back."

Freshman Julia Gubner (Calabasas, Calif.) went 3-for-6 with a triple between the two games. Sophomore Lauren Innerst (San Jose, Calif.) pitched a complete-game 7.0 innings against North Dakota, allowing just two earned runs with six strikeouts, while posting a 2-for-3 effort at the plate.

Next, Brown continues play at the San Diego Classic tomorrow – Saturday, Feb. 29 – facing CSUN (2:30 p.m. ET) and Long Beach State (5:00 p.m. ET) before closing the tournament against San Jose State on Sunday, Mar. 1 at noon ET.

Game 1: North Dakota 7, Brown 4

Sophomore Lauren Innerst pitched a complete game and went 2-for-3 at the plate, but Brown fell to North Dakota, 7-4, in its first game of the day and weekend at the San Diego Classic on Friday afternoon.

The Bears plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut a 5-1 deficit down to 5-4, but the Fighting Hawks scored two runs in the top of the seventh to hold on for the win.

Innerst (San Jose, Calif.) tossed a complete-game 7.0 innings, allowing seven runs – just two earned – on eight hits with six strikeouts alongside her 2-for-3 effort at the plate.

Juniors Katie O'Leary (Manteca, Calif.) and Madi Cranford (Escondido, Calif.) and sophomore Elayna Tsiouplis (Langhorne, Pa.) each tallied a double.

For North Dakota, Jannay Jones threw a complete-game 7.0 innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits with two strikeouts. Lexi Flom drove in three runs for the Fighting Hawks.

The Fighting Hawks plated three unearned runs, including a two-run single from Alexys Campos, in the top of the second to take a 3-0 lead.

The Bears countered with a run in the bottom of the third, pulling within 3-1. Tsiouplis set the table with a double with one out before eventually scoring after a single from Innerst. UND tacked on two unearned runs in the top of the fifth, moving ahead 5-1.

The Bears scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth, pulling within 5-4. Freshman Nicole Kim (San Jose, Calif.) led off the inning with a single and came home on an RBI double down the right field line from O'Leary. Freshman Julia Gubner (Calabasas, Calif.) followed with a triple to right center to bring home O'Leary before junior Karina Chavarria (San Bruno, Calif.) drove Gubner home with a sacrifice fly.

North Dakota tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the seventh behind a two-run double from Flom.

Game 2: San Diego 6, Brown 2

Freshman Julia Gubner posted a pair of hits, but Brown dropped a 6-2 decision to tournament co-host San Diego on Friday night in its second game of the day and weekend.

The Bears remained within 4-1 through three innings and 5-2 through five innings but could pull no closer as the Toreros held on for the win.

Gubner (Calabasas, Calif.) finished 2-for-3 while senior Kaitlin Okimoto (Burbank, Calif.) notched an RBI double. Sophomores Kat Clum (Fort Worth, Texas) and Elayna Tsiouplis (Langhorne, Pa.) each scored a run.

In the circle, junior Grace Ladd (Boulder, Colo.) tossed 5.0 innings in the loss, permitting six runs, three earned, on 10 hits. Freshman Erin Elgas (Belgrade, Mont.) posted a strikeout in 1.0 inning of relief.

For San Diego, pitcher Madison Earnshaw hurled a complete-game 7.0 innings, conceding two runs, one earned, on seven hits with four strikeouts. Madison Casiano and Clareese Santiago each recorded two hits.

USD took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first behind a two-run double from Halle Kyler.

The Bears answered with a run in the top of the second, slicing the margin to 2-1. Clum singled with one out before senior Okimoto brought her home with an RBI double.

The Toreros moved ahead 4-1 with two runs in the home half of the second and 5-1 with an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth.

In the top of the fifth, Tsiouplis led off the inning with a single up the middle and later scored on an RBI from sophomore Lauren Innerst (San Jose, Calif.), bringing the Bears within 5-2. San Diego countered with an unearned run in the last of the sixth, extending its lead to 6-2.