Hernandez follows Wednesday’s no-hitter with a two-hit
shutout
The San Benito High softball team is having a lot of fun these days.
And they’re winning games in the process.
On Friday, Hollister defeated rival Gilroy for the third time this season, 2-0, behind another solid defensive effort led by pitcher Dani Hernandez’s two-hit shutout.
“We played some nice defense again today,” said Hollister head coach Scott Smith, whose team has won four of its last five. “The girls are working real hard and I’m proud of them.”
The ‘Balers got their offense going in the third inning when lead-off batter Elena Fata connected on the first pitch she saw from Sarah Villar. The ball was playable for Gilroy’s defense but a burst of speed from fata saw the Hollister second baseman reach safely.
A sacrifice bunt from catcher Ashley Perriera, who has been doing a great job filling in behind the plate for an injured Nicole Clay, moved Fata over to second. Nicole Burns was up next and she grounded out but the play allowed Fata to reach third. Moments later, a Villar pitch got past the catcher and Fata broke for home. Her speed once again proved to be too much for the Mustangs’ defense and she made it home for the first run of the game.
The ‘Balers were able to add an insurance run in the fifth thanks to a Gilroy miscue coupled with another nice at-bat from Perriera. Megan Smith led the inning off by cranking a shot to left field. The Mustang defender got under the ball but was unable to make the catch and Smith managed to get all the way to second. Ari Romero moved Smith over to third with a sacrifice bunt as Hollister’s next batter.
A nice defensive play from Gilroy on a fly ball hit by Fata saw the Mustangs notch the inning’s second out while holding Smith at third, leaving it all up to Perriera.
And Perriera came through with an RBI single to shallow center to score Smith from third.
From there, Hernandez and the Haybaler defense had no trouble closing the game out.
“It was great to see Ashley (Perriera) step up and get a clutch hit like that with two outs,” Smith said. “That was a huge play. She’s been doing a great job for us with Nicole (Clay) out.”
