Sierra grinds out 2-1 win over Santa Ana

BAKERSFIELD - The Sierra College Wolverines and Santa Ana College Dons battled to ward off elimination Friday afternoon at Bakersfield College. The Northern California #3 seed Wolverines scored a pair of runs in the sixth and held off a bases-loaded threat by the Southern California #3 seed Dons to pull off a 2-1 win and advance.

Jada Bolar played a major role for Sierra in the win. The designated player and pitcher singled in Darcy Gillan in what proved to be the difference-making run to extend the Wolverine's lead to 2-0 in the top of the sixth. Bolar stepped into the circle to pitch the final inning and a third and retired all four batters she faced to pick up her second save of the year.

Jada Bolar on @SierraSports? big 2-1 win over Santa Ana to stay alive in the CCCAA Tournament. pic.twitter.com/L9OdtxGTQl

— CCCAA Sports (@CCCAASports) May 21, 2022

Starting pitcher Amaya Sutton allowed just two hits in five and two-thirds innings of work, striking out three batters to improve to 24-4 for the season.

Santa Ana pitcher Emily Rosas struck out four in seven innings of work, ending her season with a CCCAA-leading 316 strikeouts. Santa Ana ends its season with a record of 38-9.

The Wolverines took advantage of a Santa Ana error to score their first run of the game. In the sixth, Eliana Eriquez hit a grounder back to the pitcher and beat out the throw to first but a miscue by the Dons allowed the ball to roll past the base giving Kayley Vaillette the chance to race home. 

Santa Ana looked poised to take the lead in the bottom half of the sixth when the Dons loaded the bases following an Alexis Rangel double and a walk by Amanda Mendoza. Jayleena Perez stepped up next and drew the bases-loaded RBI walk to cut the deficit to 2-1. But Bolar strolled into pitch and forced a ground out to end the threat.

Sierra will wait to face the winner of San Jose City College and Cypress College tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Bakersfield College.

(Anthony Avila, CCCAA)