All is good on the diamond in the opener

The Saddleback softball team opened the 2013 season with a 6-1 win over Palomar College on Thursday afternoon at The Gaucho Corral.  The Gauchos pounded out 12 hits while surrendering just six in beating the Comets for a great start to the season.

Saddleback fell behind in the top of the first when Palomar managed three singles in the inning, scoring Kristin George to give the Comets a 1-0 lead.  It was short-lived, however, as the Gauchos bounced back with three of their own in the home half of the inning, powered by a 3-run homer by Tiffany McCracken to left-center field.  Saddleback scored one more in the second and added two more insurance runs in the fifth in blowing open the game.

Sydney Abounassar pitched a complete game for the Gauchos, striking out one while walking none.  The Comets managed just three hits over the final six innings as Abounasser silenced the Palomar offense.

McCracken finished 2-for-2 on the afternoon with two walks, as the Palomar pitching staff wanted nothing to do with her after driving in four runs in her first two at-bats.  Katlin Olesky, Bailey Benoit, Sarah DiTommaso and Ariel Carrillo (pictured) joined the offensive onslaught, collecting two hits apiece. 

Saddleback will play again on Friday at home against Los Angeles Valley College.  First pitch is set for 5:00 PM.