Pantages provides final theatrics for Gauchos in win

Christina Pantages' solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning broke a 6-6 tie and gave the Saddleback Gauchos a narrow 7-6 victory over visiting Santiago Canyon College on Monday afternoon.

Pantages' shot was a no-doubter that landed halfway up the hillside beyond Saddleback's 200-foot outfield fence.  The Hawks needed to pitch to Pantages with Sarah DiTommaso waiting in the on-deck circle.

DiTommaso had a huge day for the Gauchos, capitalizing on two of Santiago Canyon's five defensive errors.  Twice the Hawks committed errors to place a runner on base right before DiTommaso's at-bat and the freshman first baseman made them pay.  She hit two-run home runs in both the second and fourth innings to give the Gauchos a 4-3 lead.  She added a deep fly ball to the warning track down the right field line to end the fifth inning.

So, after the Hawks fought back to tie the game at 6-6 with a double and a single in the top of the seventh inning, the Gauchos had two outs with Pantages at the plate and DiTommaso waiting on deck.  Pantages ended the game by herself.  It was her only hit of the game.

Saddleback had seven hits:  three left the yard and Katlin Olesky added a double down the left field line to open the bottom half of the sixth inning.  She later scored on a sacrifice fly by Tori Duquette.  Sydney Abounassar, who picked up the victory on the mound, added two singles at the plate.