Dons Tie School Record with Four Home Runs in 11-2 Win over LA Valley

Devon Rodriguez drives this pitch over the wall for a three-run home against LA Valley. The Dons tied a school record with four home runs in the game.
Devon Rodriguez drives this pitch over the wall for a three-run home against LA Valley. The Dons tied a school record with four home runs in the game.

SANTA ANA - The Dons used four home runs, three from the middle of the lineup, to defeat visiting Los Angeles Valley College and improve to 3-1 on the season. The four home runs ties a SAC record set in 1985 against Citrus College.

The first home run belonged to Sabrina Perez who hit a three-run home run to centerfield, scoring Alexandra Perkins and Danielle Hernandez. Two batters later, Heather Robertson hit a solo home run, also to centerfield. Both of those home runs came in the first inning, giving the Dons a 4-0 lead.

The offensive surge continued in the second inning with Hernandez tripling in Alyssa Yglesias before Perez drew a walk. Three pitches later, Devon Rodriguez drove a pitch to centerfield for a three-run home run, the Dons third of the game.

After scoring a pair of unearned runs in the third inning to go up 10-0, the Dons day was capped off by a solo home run down the right field line by Becky Poirier. Valley's (0-3) two runs came in the fifth inning, aided by three hits and one error.

On the mound, Chantal Oelrich was in control for the majority of the game. Oelrich ended the game with two runs allowed, one earned, on five hits over five innings pitched.

The Dons hit the road tomorrow when they face San Diego City College at 2:00 p.m.\

Game Notes: With the win, the Dons have now had all four of their games end by the run rule. Today was the first game of the season where both teams scored a run with the first three resulting in shutouts. With four home runs in one game, the Dons nearly matched the total of home runs hit in their home park. Since the field was opened in 2008, the Dons had previously hit six home runs at home, four coming in the 2011 season alone.