Softball strikes late for win

The Saddleback softball team won its second straight game on Wednesday with a 3-1 victory over Fullerton College.  The Gauchos scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to turn back the Hornets.

Saddleback trailed 1-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth and after Nicole Gliko flied out to right field looked as if they were going to go quietly into the night.  The Gauchos had just two hits in the entire game entering the inning, both of which came in the previous inning after Fullerton pitcher Bridget Ruiz had completely silenced the Gauchos.

Drew Moore singled to start a rally, but was quickly retired on a fielder's choice, leaving Gabriella Ertle on first base with only four outs remaining if the Gauchos were going to mount an uprising.  It all changed with one swing of the bat as Brittney Chacon (pictured) blasted a two-run homer to left field, giving Saddleback a 2-1 lead and reviving a Gaucho crowd that was half-way to the exits.  Samantha Molina followed with a double and was then knocked home by Madison Newby on a single, giving Saddleback a 3-1 lead with just one at-bat remaining for the visitors.

Fullerton started the top half of the seventh with a single, but was unable to turn back the momentum as Nelsa Delagente retired the next three batters to improve to 13-16 on the season.  Delagente pitched a complete game, with the lone run in the fourth inning being unearned.

Saddleback will try to make it three in a row on Friday when they travel to Orange Coast College to face the Pirates.  The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM.