by TURLOCK, Calif. – Hawai’i Pacific University senior Jordan Curry (Navajo) delivered a two-hit shutout in leading HPU to a 1-0 victory over Cal State Monterey Bay to close the 2019 Turlock Tournament of Champions on Sunday at the Pedretti Sports Complex.
The Sharks (27-18) won their third game in the tournament, while the Otters (18-16) picked up their fourth loss in five tournament games.
The Sharks picked up the only run of the contest to start of the bottom of the first inning, when senior shortstop Tiana Cantero-Kawelo of Wahiawa, Hawai’i/Leilehua led off with a triple to right field and junior third baseman Sierra Dias of Mililani, Hawai’i/Bishop Gorman followed with an RBI single to center. The 1-0 HPU lead was good the entire game.
Curry, the senior righthander from Farmington, N.M./Farmington, was phenomenal in the circle, allowing just four baserunners in the contest on two hits and two walks while collecting four strikeouts.
Curry allowed walks in the second and third innings while flirting with a no-hitter until the fifth when Otter Gabriell Forbes snuck a two-out single down the left field line to break it up. The one-hitter ended in the seventh when fellow pitcher Hayley Fein singled to left. A pinch runner moved to second on a ground out and was the only Otter to reach second base.
HPU did load the bases in the third inning, but failed to capitalize, but the Sharks had mastery in the circle.
Fein (12-7) took the loss for the Otters, but had a quality performance allowing one run on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in six innings.
Curry recorded three consecutive shut outs in the three starts at the Tournament of Champions, with two runs allowed in relief. She totaled 14 hits, but struck out 14 batters in the tournament while tossing 25.0 innings.
Curry now has 18 complete games with seven shutouts (and a combined shutout) on the season, with either a shutout or a combined shutout in her last five starts.
