A dozen reasons to smile
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Golden West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
|
Saddleback | 1 | 9 | 2 | 0 | X | 12 | 14 | 2 |
The Saddleback softball team improved to 7-2 with a 12-0 win over Golden West College on Wednesday at the Saddleback softball diamond. The Gauchos opened Orange Empire Conference play with a dominating win against the Rustlers.
Just about everything went right for Saddleback on Wednesday. The Gauchos generated 12 runs on 14 hits against the Rustlers while two pitchers combined on a no-hitter. Saddleback sent 15 batters to the plate in the bottom half of the second inning in scoring nine runs, both of which were season-highs.
Saddleback took a 1-0 lead in the opening inning when Vanessa Alvarran doubled to right-center field to score Anne Thibert, after Thibert opened the game with a nub single in front of the plate. It was 1-of-3 hits on the day for Thibert and 1-of-2 hits for Alvarran, who combined for five hits and three runs-scored.
Another having a big day at the plate was Naomi Varela. The sophomore from El Modena High School finished 3-for-3 with two RBI in the win. Varela (pictured) batted twice in the second inning alone, lacing a single to center field as the second batter of the inning and later hitting a soft blooper to second base that she ended up beating out to first base.
Emma Estep was the fourth Gaucho to have multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 on the afternoon.
Saddleback received another stellar performance on the mound as starter Veronica Belleza started and pitched through the fourth inning before giving way to Alyssa Porras. Belleza finished with eight strikeouts while Porras recorded two of her own in the top half of the fifth inning. It was the third no-hitter of the season for the Gaucho pitching staff, which now has a 2.35 Team ERA for the year. Belleza lowered her team-leading ERA to 0.25 for the season, and she now has 56 strikeouts in 27.2 innings of work.
Saddleback will travel to Mt. San Jacinto College this weekend for the MSJC Tournament. The Gauchos open up on Saturday with a game against Allan Hancock College at 12:00 PM before facing East Los Angeles College at 2:30 PM.