Bobcats slam the big cats

The Saddleback softball team picked up its first win in Orange Empire Conference play with an 8-1 victory over Riverside City College on Wednesday in Riverside.  Ehva Cifuentes-Zombulovic hit a grand slam in the win over the Tigers.

After three frustrating losses to start OEC play, Saddleback has a win to celebrate.  The Bobcats scored seven times in the second inning in cruising past the Tigers, who have yet to win in OEC play. 

Saddleback made a big statement in the second inning, sending 10 batters to the plate.  The Bobcats had three hits in the inning and took advantage of three walks from the Tiger pitching staff.  Desiree McGruder started the scoring when she tripled to right field to score both Katie Schmidt and Emma Estep.  Ehva Cifuentes-Zombulovic capped off the inning when she hammered her fifth home run of the season over the left field wall with the bases loaded to give the Bobcats a 7-0 lead.

Saddleback added an insurance run in the top half of the fourth inning when Mikayla Mattocks doubled and was brought home on a single from Anne Thibert.  Mattocks and Cifuentes-Zombulovic both finished with a team-leading two hits on the afternoon. 

Schmidt started and pitched a complete game in picking up her fifth win of the season (5-8). 

Cifuentes-Zombulovic now has five home runs on the season, which currently ranks fourth in the state.  The five home runs is the most for Saddleback since Haliegh Wilkerson hit five home runs during the 2017 season.  

Saddleback is now 5-9 overall and 1-3 in Orange Empire Conference play.  The Bobcats will play again on Friday at home against Santiago Canyon (2:00 PM).