Monday, March 9, 2020

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Simon Fraser softball team continued its hot streak as the Clan swept Montana State Billings last week to improve to 7-1 in conference play (13-5 overall) and earn selection as the GNAC Team of the Week.

Simon Fraser escaped with a pair of one-run victories in Saturday’s doubleheader. The Clan scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning of a 9-8 series opener, capped off by a walk-off RBI single by junior utility player Kate Fergusson. The Clan then walked it off again in the second game of the twin bill, capitalizing on two MSUB errors in the bottom of the seventh to win 7-6.

The Clan erupted for 11 hits in Sunday’s opener to win 12-4 in six innings before rallying for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning of the finale to complete the sweep with a 5-4 win.

“The team was able to piece everything together this weekend,” first-year head coach Tina Andreana said. “I’m proud of the way they performed on the field and truly felt that they were always in control, even when we were down by a few runs.”

After punching through the game-winning hit in the opener, Fergusson went 1 for 3 with a run and an RBI single in Sunday’s 12-4 rout. She finished the week with a 2 for 3, one-run performance in Sunday’s nightcap.

Junior Hannah Boulanger led the Clan in Saturday’s 9-8 win as she batted 3 for 4 with a two-RBI home run that tied the game at 8-8 in the last-inning comeback. Boulanger followed by going 1 for 3 with an RBI single in Saturday’s second game. In Sunday’s first game, Boulanger went 1 for 2 with two walks, two runs and an RBI double to open the scoring. She closed the week with a 1 for 3 performance in the finale.

Junior third baseman Alex Ogg batted .333 on the week, collecting five hits, six runs and four RBI. She opened the week with a 2 for 3 performance in Saturday’s first game and then went 1 for 4 and scored twice in the nightcap. Ogg finished the week by going 1 for 4 in both games on Sunday, totaling three runs and four RBI in the two games.

Chelsea Hotner proved that when the ball is put in play, good things happen. The senior outfielder went 6 for 16 in the series with a pair of runs and five RBI. Hotner went 2 for 4 with two runs and an RBI single in Saturday’s first win and then followed by going 1 for 4 with three RBI in the second game of the doubleheader. Hotner reached first base on an infield error that scored two in the third inning and then reached safely again as the Clan won 7-6 on an error by the MSUB pitcher.

Sophomore Anissa Zacharczuk improved to 10-0 in the circle as she picked up a pair of wins against the Yellowjackets. Zacharczuk tossed 6.2 innings in the series opener, allowing 15 hits and eight earned runs while walking one and striking out two in the win. She then allowed six hits and four earned runs in six innings pitched to pick up the win in Sunday’s 12-4 win.

“It’s always exciting to play tough competition and to be able to pull through with some great defensive plays and nail-biting clutch hits,” Andreana said. “We’re looking to build on this momentum and carry on this game-by-game mentality for the rest of conference play.”

Simon Fraser has won six straight games and 10 of its last 11. Up next, the Clan will head to Ellensburg to play a doubleheader at Central Washington on Saturday before playing two more games at Saint Martin’s on Sunday.