The Santa Ana College (SAC) softball team lost to visiting Saddleback College 6-5 despite rallying back from a 5-1 deficit. The Gauchos stopped the Dons rally before scoring the game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning.
Saddleback (19-5, 7-2) appeared to be cruising to an easy victory after jumping out to a 5-1 lead after two innings. The Gauchos scored a pair of runs in the first before putting up three more in the second.
The Dons (13-8, 4-5) scored their first run of the game in the first inning, making it 2-1 at the time with Alexandra Perkins leading off the inning with a walk. After Perkins stole second, Keila Tenorio hit an infield single to give the Dons runners on the corners. In the next at bat, Melissa Biddle grounded out to second, allowing Perkins to score on the play.
After the Gauchos established their 5-1 lead, Dons starting pitcher Kaitlyn Hooper settled down on the mound, nearly pitching four perfect innings. The only base runner she allowed between the third and sixth inning reached on an error in the fourth.
The Dons also started to get rolling offensively, aided by another leadoff walk. This time it was Biddle who drew the walk before being replaced by Rachel Prentice at first base. Kristen Hooper then doubled to left field, bringing Prentice home to cut Saddleback's lead to 5-2 after four.
The Dons rally continued in the fifth inning as they sent seven batters to the plate. After the leadoff batter grounded out, Perkins reached on an error before Hannah Dowling drew a walk.
Tenorio followed with a two-run triple to pull the Dons within one at 5-4. She scored in the next at bat when Biddle hit into a fielder's choice. The Gauchos defense tried to throw Tenorio out at home but she beat the throw, tying the game at 5-5.
The Dons threatened to score the go-ahead run in the sixth inning but Saddleback's defense tightened up, giving its offense a chance. Anna Blue responded with a two-out single in the seventh before Christina Bolin was intentionally walked. Chelsea Bertoglio followed with a RBI-single that brought Blue home for the game-winning run.
Kaitlyn Hooper (10-6) suffered the loss for the Dons after allowing six runs, two earned, on eight hits over seven innings. Danielle Santos (14-1) got the win for the Gauchos after allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits over seven innings.
