Gavilan upends San Jose City College 1-0 Tuesday in Gilroy
GILROY
Gavilan’s Melinda Ortiz threw seven shutout innings on Monday and the Rams softball team scored its biggest win of the season to date when they edged visiting San Jose City College 1-0 in Gilroy.
San Jose City actually finished in first place last year in the Coast Conference – South to Gavilan’s runner-up standing, and eventually ended its season in the state tournament.
“It’s a big win,” Gavilan manager Nikki Dequin said. “They were first in the conference last year and they were one of the top eight teams in the state. It was a huge win for us.”
Ortiz, a Gilroy High product, allowed just four hits over the course of the game, striking out eight.
She allowed four free bases, including three walks, although San Jose City was unable to plate the tying run.
“We’ve been playing great ball,” Dequin said.
The Rams pocketed the game’s only run in the second inning when Hollister’s Haley MacFarlane got on with a walk. Andrea Garcia and Mikhaela Osuna then followed, each reaching base by error, and MacFarlane scored the go-ahead unearned run as a result.
Traditionally, Dequin said, San Jose City is at or near the top of the Coast Conference – South standings, perhaps making Tuesday’s one-run victory even more important as the season progresses.
“But I’m not gonna underestimate the other teams in our conference,” Dequin added.
Gavilan will visit San Jose City College on April 9.
Tuesday’s win was also a welcoming sign for the Rams (1-0, 7-9 overall), which were coming off two losses to College of the Sequoias last Friday. Gavilan lost the opener 1-0 in eight innings, then fell 4-1 in the second game of the two-game slate.
On Sunday, the Rams were scheduled to play Lassen College and Sacramento City College in Sacramento, although both games were rained out. Dequin said a doubleheader against Sacramento City has been tentatively scheduled for March 21 in Sacramento.
Meanwhile, Gavilan’s next game was originally scheduled to be at West Valley College in Saratoga, although West Valley dropped the softball program this year.
The Rams will visit Sierra College on Saturday in Sierra at 2 p.m.
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