Jags lose 2-1 as Vikings hit a walkoff in the bottom of the 7th inning
By Malaya Street
In this rescheduled conference game, the San José City Jags (9-7, 1-1 Coast) went toe-to-toe with the West Valley College Vikings (13-5, 2-0) as both were scoreless for six innings before the Jags made the first punch. Then a critical error by the Jags allowed the Vikings to victory.
Top of the seventh inning, pinch hitter Haley Castro sailed a leadoff double off the tip of the right fielder's glove to start the rally. Lareina Solis followed with a bunt single after beating out the third baseman's throw.
Runners on first and third, Kiya Sandoval, grounded the ball to the shortstop, who tried backhanding the ball but missed. The error helped the Jags lead 1-0.
The Vikings threatened to score after the leadoff batter hit a triple to right field. The Jags' starting pitcher, Alaina Valdez, hit the next batter, and then an RBI single to right field knocked in the runner on third to tie the game 1-1.
No outs, and the Vikings used a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third. A one-hopper was hit to Sandoval, but she fumbled the ball as the walk-off run slid home.
Throughout the game, both teams' defenses were solid, while Valdez was locked in a pitchers' duel with the Vikings' Shelby White as they did not allow any runners to touch home plate for six innings.
White had ten strikeouts, five hits, one earned run, and one walk against the Jags. Valdez had four strikeouts, six hits, two earned runs, and two walks.
The Jags had multiple scoring opportunities early in the game to gain any momentum. Melissa Felix had a leadoff single over shortstop in the first inning to start the game. Valdez bunted Felix over to second, and then Felix stole third. Felix was stranded on third as White retired the last two outs.
Gabi Jordan began with a leadoff walk in the second inning, and Karissa Smith bunted for a single. Solis moved the runners to second and third, but the runners never scored.
In the third inning, Valdez doubled to the corner of right field. Jade Henry was hit by the pitch and advanced to first. Jordan grounded the ball to the shortstop, who mishandled it and threw it away past first.
The ball bounced off the fence perfectly in front of the first baseman, who grabbed the ball, threw it home, and Valdez was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. The Jags did not get another runner on base until the seventh inning.