SANTA ANA - The Dons were one strike away from handing Riverside City College its first loss of the season, but the Tigers got two home runs in the seventh inning to rally and defeat the Dons 5-3 in an Orange Empire Conference game.

Riverside (8-0) set up its chance for a comeback with a pair of runs in the sixth inning on a RBI-double and a sacrifice fly. Then, with two outs and a 2-3 count, Natalie Barrios tied the game with her solo home run to left field. After Desiree Broussard singled, Courtney Brown connected on a 2-2 count for the go-ahead, two-run home run.

The bottom of the seventh inning started with the Dons first two batters retired in order before Sabrina Perez drew a walk. However, with Danielle Hernandez representing the tying run at the plate, the game ended with Hernandez grounding out back to the mound.

The Dons built a 3-0 lead early in the game that they carried into the sixth inning. Alexandra Perkins led the first inning off with a bloop-single before Alyssa Yglesias sent the first pitch she saw over the centerfield fence for a two-run home run.

Two innings later, Yglesias put the Dons up 3-0 in the third when she reached second on an error, advanced to third on a Perez single and came around to score on a wild pitch. However, that would be the last of the Dons offense as SAC left one batter on base in every inning of the game.

Chantal Oelrich (3-3) suffered the loss for the Dons in relief as she allowed the Tigers second home run of the seventh inning. Devon Rodriguez started the game for SAC, allowing three runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings pitched. Katherine Macias (3-0) picked up the win for the Tigers as she allowed three runs, two earned, on seven hits over seven innings.

The Dons are back in action tomorrow, Thursday, February 21, when they host Grossmont College in a non-conference game at 3 p.m.