Belleza swats back Hornets with nine K’s

The Saddleback softball team moved up in the Orange Empire Conference standings with a 3-0 win at Fullerton College on Wednesday afternoon.  Pitcher Veronica Belleza recorded nine strikeouts in the win.

Saddleback and Fullerton were next to each other in the standings heading into the game, with Fullerton leading the Gauchos by one game.  Saddleback now stands tied for third place with Fullerton in conference play after the win on Wednesday.

Belleza was on her game against Fullerton, spreading around three hits.  She retired the first 10 batters in order, striking out four along the way.  When the Hornets did finally break through with a one-out double in the bottom half of the fourth, Belleza struck out the next two batters to end the threat.

In the bottom half of the fifth inning Fullerton had runners at second and third base with two outs in the inning.  Belleza proceeded to strike out the next batter for her eighth strikeout of the game. 

Belleza looked as if she may get herself in some trouble to start the seventh inning when she hit the first batter in the lineup to give Fullerton some life.  She quickly turned things around, retiring three batters in order with another going down by way of a strikeout.

Saddleback took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the second inning when they sprinkled around three hits to take the lead.  Paige Welk had the RBI single to score Rachel Varela and the Gauchos had a 1-0 lead.

Saddleback added two more runs in the top half of the third inning in taking a 3-0 lead.  The Gauchos capitalized on two walks and an error in the inning, with Anne Thibert coming home on an error and Mackenzy Peak walking with the bases loaded.  Thibert, Annalie Benjamen and Varela all finished with two hits on the afternoon. 

Saddleback is now 12-6 overall and 3-3 in Orange Empire Conference play following the win.  The Gauchos will host Riverside City College on Friday afternoon at 2:00 PM.