BURNABY — Simon Fraser University is clinging to playoff life after splitting a doubleheader against Saint Martin's at Beedie Field but the Clan may need help to make the Great Northwest Athletic Conference post-season championship tournament.
The Clan was unable to muster much offence against the Saints in Game 1, dropping a 9-1 decision. That victory clinched a post-season berth for Saint Martin's, now 16-10.
The Clan bats came alive in Game 2 when the team rallied in the bottom of the sixth to power towards a 9-5 victory. Simon Fraser, 11-13, sits four games back of the final playoff spot with four games remaining. The Clan must win its four remaining home games, beginning with a doubleheader Saturday at noon on Beedie Field against GNAC-leading Central Washington, and even then the final playoff berth would be decided on tiebreakers.
Saturday's doubleheader will honour the Clan's senior class.
Simon Fraser is scheduled to play Concordia University, 15-11, on Sunday at Beedie beginning at noon. Western Washington, 13-13, is also in the playoff hunt with two games remaining.
SFU 1 SMU 9
SFU starting pitcher Tori Belton got off to a rough start surrendering three runs on four hits in the top of the first inning, spotting the Saints a 3-0 lead after the first.
SMU struck again in the top of the third inning as they chased Belton from the mound putting another 5 runs on the board. Belton lasted 2.1 innings giving up six runs on eight hits and was saddled with the loss. Belton's record dropped to 9-9 on the season.
Senior Jessica Goulet was the Clan's most effective pitcher on the day as she came in to pitch the final 1.2 innings, allowing only a single hit while striking out one.
Senior Nicole Ratel's seventh homerun of the season was the lone hit registered by the Clan. Ratel crushed a ball off the Beedie Field scoreboard in left in the bottom of the fourth.
Kim Nelson picked up the win for the Saints moving her record to 12-8 on the season allowing only one hit and striking out four.
SFU 9 SMU 5
SFU's Alia Stachoski added to her GNAC-leading strikeout count with 91 on the season and now sits in second in the GNAC with 14 with the 9-5 victory.
The Saints got off to another quick start in game two, this time registering a single run to take an early 1-0 lead after the first inning.
SMU pounced again in the top of the second as they loaded the bases with one out. Lindsay Miller cranked a double to left field scoring two runs and Lauren Diuco followed Miller with a single plating another Saints run. Stachoski was able to escape the bases loaded jam by limiting the Saints to two consecutive ground outs.
The Clan was able to chip away at the Saints lead in the bottom of the second when Taylor Lundrigan forced a bad throw from a Saints' fielder which brought Katherine Murnaghan home from third base. The Clan still trailed 4-1.
Ratel brought the Clan to within two runs, 4-2, when she hit her second home run of the day and eighth of the season in the bottom of the third.
The Saints added a run in the top of the fifth. But in the bottom half of the inning, with runners on first and second, Stephanie Caron tripled to the gap in right centre field cashing in the two runners, making it 5-4. A Rachel Proctor fly ball to left field brought Caron home and even the score.
Earlier in the day Proctor was named to the GNAC All-Academic Team. She carries a 3.23 GPA in Health Sciences.
The Clan was able to open the flood gates and complete the comeback in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded, Ratel drew a walk to bring home the go-ahead run. Back-to-back singles by Taylor Gillis and Alex Baylak and a hit batter in Meghan Malkowich, all with the bases loaded, brought the score to 9-5.
Alia Stachoski went the distance pitching seven innings and earning her team high 14th win. She sits in second place in the GNAC in wins at 14-8 and leads the GNAC with 91 strikeouts.
Be sure to follow Clan Athletics on Twitter @SFUAthletics for up to date scores, schedules and statistics for all Clan teams.
--@SFUClan--
