Softball breaks out brooms against Rustlers
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Golden West | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
|
Saddleback | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 6 | 12 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Golden West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
|
Saddleback | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 | X | 11 | 11 | 1 |
The Saddleback softball team is now 5-0 after winning a double-header on Friday against Golden West College at the Saddleback softball diamond. The softball team never trailed on the day, leading from start to finish.
Saddleback is off to its best start in six years after starting the season 5-0. The softball team did it with a little of everything on Friday. They played stellar defensively, provided timely hits and received solid pitching.
Saddleback bolted out to a 6-0 lead in the opening inning on Friday in winning the opening game 6-2. The team had six hits in the opening inning while sending nine batters to the plate. Brenna Sickles had the lone extra base hit in the inning when she doubled off the center field wall to score Mikayla Mattocks before being tagged out by the shortstop after rounding second base.
Saddleback finished with 12 hits in the game, with four different players having at least two hits apiece. Veronica Belleza was 3-for-3 in the game to lead the team. Belleza was also solid on the mound, pitching through the fifth inning before giving way to Annalie Benjamen. Belleza surrendered just two hits while striking out three in improving to 4-0 on the season.
The second game was never close, with Saddleback cruising to an 11-0 win in five innings. The softball team sent 14 batters to the plate in the bottom half of the third inning in blowing the game wide open. Saddleback entered the third inning leading 2-0 and extended the lead to 10-0. Marilyn Francisco, Rachel Varela and Veronica Belleza all had two hits in the inning. Francisco (pictured) would finish 3-for-4 in the game while going 5-for-8 with three runs-scored and two RBI for the day.
Katie Schmidt pitched a complete game on the mound, spreading around three hits over five innings of work. Schmidt gave up just one walk in picking up her first win of the season.
Saddleback is now 5-0 for the first time since 2015 when they started the season 5-0. The softball team gets a huge test next week when they play Cypress in a four-game set. The two squads will open the series with a double-header at Saddleback on Wednesday before heading to Cypress on Friday. The two games on Wednesday start at 1:00 PM on the Saddleback diamond.