Cats win opening game in new stadium

The Saddleback softball team improved to 2-0 with an 8-0 win in five innings against Southwestern College on Friday at the Saddleback Softball Complex.  The win was the first victory inside the new stadium.

Saddleback was riding high after a win against highly-rated Palomar on Wednesday in the season-opener, and the momentum carried over into Friday's home-opener.  The Bobcats led from start to finish, winning by the mercy rule in the bottom half of the fifth inning.

Saddleback jumped on Southwestern early when Cristen Areopagita singled in the top of the first inning and later came around to score on a groundout from Macy Smith.  It was one of two hits on the day for Areopagita (pictured), who recorded the final hit of the game in the bottom half of the fifth inning with a walk-off single to left field for an 8-0 win.

Smith started on the mound for Saddleback and kept the Jaguars quiet for the entire game.  The lone hit for the Jaguars came in the top half of the fourth inning when Southwestern's Iliana Romero broke up the no-hit bid.  Smith would finish with three strikeouts and no walks through five innings in picking up her first win of the season.

Saddleback finished with eight hits on the day.  In addition to Areopagita's two hits, McKenzie Lombard had a big day at the plate.  Lombard finished 2-for-3 with a walk and three runs-scored, reaching base four times.

Saddleback is now 2-0 to start the season.  It is the first 2-0 start since the beginning of the 2022 campaign.

Saddleback will have the weekend off before hosting Mt. San Jacinto College on Monday at 2:00 PM.