Bobcats take down Griffins

The Saddleback softball team finished the week on a high note with a 5-2 victory over Grossmont College on Thursday afternoon at Esencia Park.  Macy Smith led the charge as the Bobcats turned back the Griffins.

Saddleback trailed 1-0 heading into the bottom half of the third inning, and over the first two innings the bats were fairly quiet.  The Bobcats woke up in the bottom half of the third, rapping out four hits and capitalizing on an error from the Griffins.

Saddleback scored the tying run with two outs in the inning when Malia Garcia singled home McKenzie Lombard from third base to even the score.  Mia Calderon then singled through the left side to load the bases for Smith.  The freshman from Crean Lutheran High School planted a ball half way up the fence in left field, clearing the bases and giving Saddleback a 4-1 lead.

The three-run advantage was all that Saddleback would need as the Bobcat pitching staff kept the Griffins in check.  Averi Moon started the game and pitched into the sixth inning before getting in a jam.  Smith came to the rescue on the mound, allowing just one run to cross home plate after the Griffins had loaded the bases with no outs in the inning.  A couple of ground balls to third base and a lazy pop-up to the shortstop preserved the 5-2 lead.

Moon picked up the win for Saddleback to improve to 2-1 on the season while Smith picked up her second save of the year. 

Saddleback is now 8-13 overall folowing the win.  The Bobcats will resume Orange Empire Conference play next week with a three-game series against Santa Ana College.  Saddleback will travel to Santa Ana on Tuesday (2:00 PM) and Friday (2:00 PM) while hosting the Dons on Thursday (2:00 PM).