Pacific’s Curtier Run-Producing Machine In Palm Springs

Pacific sophomore Jennifer Curtier (Lancaster, CA/Quartz Hill HS) continued a slew of awards for the Tiger softball program as she picked up Big West Player of the Week honors after driving in or scoring half of the team’s runs at the Palm Springs Classic. A Tiger has either won or earned a share of each of the first four conference weekly honors.

Curtier batted .462 (6-for-13) with two runs scored and nine RBI as Pacific posted a 3-2 record at the tournament. The Tigers knocked off Ohio State 7-5 in the tournament opener as the first baseman went 3-for-3 with a pair of home runs and five RBI. She had a 1-for-2 effort with an RBI in a 5-4 win over Mississippi State, adding a walk and a stolen base. Against Notre Dame, Curtier went 2-for-4 with three RBI as the Tigers recorded a 9-1 victory.

She leads the No. 24 Tigers with four home runs and 15 RBI while batting .297 for the season.

Long Beach State’s Cervenka Outduels An Olympian

Long Beach State senior Meredith Cervenka (La Crescenta, CA/Crescenta Valley HS) turned in a memorable performance in a 1-0 upset win over No. 3 Texas, outdueling USA Olympic gold medalist Cat Osterman. A two-time Big West Co-Pitcher of the Year, Cervenka helped the 49ers snap a four-game losing streak with the Texas-sized triumph at the Palm Springs Classic.

The right-hander finished the week with a 1-1 record in three appearances, posting a 0.82 ERA in 17.0 innings of work. In the win over the Longhorns, she threw eight innings of two-hit ball and struck out a season-high nine batters. She suffered a hard luck 1-0 loss to Wisconsin, allowing just one run and five hits in six innings while striking out seven. She also gave up a run and three hits in three innings of a relief stint versus Northwestern. Cervenka’s win over Texas gave her 60 for her career, third all-time at LBSU.