Bobcats crank up bats in win

The Saddleback softball team took a 1-0 lead in the series against Santa Ana College with a 9-7 victory over the Dons on Tuesday in Santa Ana.  The Bobcats cranked out 12 hits in the win. 

Saddleback had its fourth highest output of the season on Tuesday in the win.  In addition to the 12 hits, the Bobcats also had five walks as Santa Ana pitching couldn't keep the Cats off the basepaths. 

Sarah Araujo had her first three-hit game of the season for Saddleback.  Araujo singled in the second inning and then had a sacrifice fly in the third inning when the Bobcats put up five runs to take a 6-1 lead.  She singled to lead off the fifth inning and later came around to score to give Saddleback a 7-3 advantage.  Araujo had her third hit in the game in the sixth inning as the Bobcats had three straight hits to increase the lead to 9-3.

Araujo (pictured) wasn't the only Bobcat to have a big day at the plate as McKenzie Lombard, Macy Smith, Lily Troiano and Sofia Krause all had two hits apiece in the game. 

Saddleback started Alexa Pfutzenreuder on the mound, and she pitched 5.1 innings in improving to 6-8 on the season.  Averi Moon pitched the final 1.2 innings of the game.

Saddleback is now 9-13 overall and 3-6 in Orange Empire Conference play.  The Bobcats will travel to Santa Ana on Wednesday for game two of the series in a game that was previously scheduled to be played on Friday but was moved up to Wednesday because of the possibility of rain in the forecast.  Saddleback and Santa Ana are scheduled to start at 2:00 PM in Santa Ana.