Highlighted by superb defense on both sides and nasty pitching
from ace starters Sarah Lorraine Lira and Paige Miguel,
manufacturing runs became that much more labor intensive. But a
pair of insurance tallies in the top of the seventh proved dear as
the visiting Balers defeated the Mustangs 4-2, quieting a seemingly
promising seventh-inning rally to salvage the victory.
GILROY
Another tightly contested matchup between the Tri-County Athletic League’s premier softball programs played out under picturesque conditions Thursday afternoon in Gilroy.
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Highlighted by superb defense on both sides and nasty pitching from ace starters Sarah Lorraine Lira and Paige Miguel, manufacturing runs became that much more labor intensive.
But a pair of insurance tallies in the top of the seventh proved dear as the visiting Balers defeated the Mustangs 4-2, quieting a seemingly promising seventh-inning rally to salvage the victory.
“I thought both teams played great defense,” San Benito manager Scott Smith said. “That’s probably the backbone of our team. Our pitchers keeping the ball down and trying to keep it in the infield.”
Down 4-1, the Mustangs loaded the bases with no outs in the final frame, but could only push one run across on an RBI fielder’s choice off the bat of Holly Lam.
Relief pitcher Megan Sabbatini, who spelled Miguel after Dani Hemeon led off the inning with a single, induced back-to-back ground outs to seal the win.
“I think we played a good game, but we came back a little too late,” said GHS senior Stephanie Rodriguez, who had two of the Mustangs’ six hits. “I felt like we fought the whole game. It was frustrating because we were hitting the ball, but we just couldn’t get it through.”
Scoreless through three innings, a walk and hit by pitch put runners on first and second with one out in the Balers’ fourth.
Needing a spark to disrupt what had been a defensive struggle, Smith sent pinch runner Ali Ocampo in motion on a delayed steal to third.
The ploy worked.
Catcher Melanie Morelos’ throw sailed over third baseman Celeste Mendoza’s glove and into left field, allowing Ocampo to race home for the 1-0 lead.
Brittany Hoff’s leadoff double and Jessica Vest’s subsequent RBI single up the middle accounted for the Balers’ second run of the afternoon in the sixth.
“We got runners on in the right time with the right kid up,” Smith said. “I thought the kids were patient at the plate and did a good job adjusting, because Lira is tough. She moves the ball around a lot. So I was proud of them for that.”
The Mustangs countered in the bottom half of the inning, lacing three straight base hits, including Morelos’ seeing-eye single down the third base line to plate Casey Lester.
However, the rally soon faded when Lira grounded into a close-call double play and Lindsay Holt bounded a chopper to third.
“A couple little plays here and there that I wish we could have back that would’ve changed the game around,” GHS manager Julie Berggren said.
The Balers widened the gap in the seventh via an RBI bunt by Mari Vallejo and a RBI fielder’s choice by Hoff for a 4-1 cushion that proved valuable.
Lira went 6-plus innings in the circle for GHS, allowing six hits and four runs (three earned). Miguel, who didn’t record a strikeout in the game, coaxed 11 ground-ball outs.
The Balers (6-0, 2-0 TCAL) return to the diamond Tuesday to take on their other league rival, Notre Dame. First pitch is 4:30 p.m. in Hollister.
