San Benito scores five in the first, beats Everett Alvarez 7-0
Tuesday
Hollister
A five-run first inning, sparked by a two-run triple from Lizzy Gatto, and nine strikeouts from pitcher Marisa Ibarra supplied the San Benito softball with another shutout victory Tuesday, as the Lady ‘Balers silenced visiting Everett Alvarez 7-0.
The Lady ‘Balers are now 8-0 in the Tri-County Athletic League, and haven’t allowed a single run through those eight games.
“I’d like to keep it in tact,” manager Scott Smith said of the scoreless streak. “But we’re just trying to stay positive … We can’t look past anybody. We’re gonna try and stay motivated.”
Gatto’s triple in the first inning was blasted to the left-center gap, plating both Rachel Maheu and Elena Fata, and started a five-run inning for San Benito.
Gatto would later score in the inning on a Bre Fata single up the middle, and Bri Romero followed with an RBI triple of her own. Haley McFarlane’s RBI single scored Romero and supplied San Benito with a five-run cushion after one complete inning.
The Eagles had their chances to put themselves on the scoreboard, though, but Ibarra and the Lady ‘Baler defense foiled any such idea.
In the first inning, Alvarez had a runner on third base with two outs, but Ibarra picked up the first of her nine strikeouts on the day to end the threat.
The Eagles had perhaps their best chance to plate a run in the fourth, when they put runners on second and third base with no one out. But after a groundout to second base supplied the first out, San Benito turned two by picking the runner off second base on the same play.
The following batter then grounded out to second to end the inning.
In the sixth, left-fielder Bre Sullivan made a leaping catch up over her head that likely saved a run as well, and put an exclamation point on yet another scoreless contest by San Benito.
Elena Fata was 3-for-4 in the game, and Bre Fata scored a pair of runs.
The Lady ‘Balers scored a pair of runs in the third inning on two errors by Alvarez.
Everett Alvarez falls to 1-7 in the TCAL.
San Benito (21-4 overall) will host Alisal Thursday. First pitch is at 4:30 p.m.
EA 000 000 0 – 0 2 2
SB 502 000 X – 7 10 1
