Dons Unable to Overcome Early Deficit in 8-4 Loss to Santiago Canyon College

Vanessa Moreno singles in Devon Rodriguez from third base in the Dons game against Santiago Canyon College.
Vanessa Moreno singles in Devon Rodriguez from third base in the Dons game against Santiago Canyon College.

SANTA ANA - After falling behind 7-0 in the fourth inning, the Dons made several comeback attempts but were unable to come up with the big hit as they fell to visiting Santiago Canyon College 8-4 in an Orange Empire Conference game.

The Hawks (14-3, 4-2) scored a pair of runs in the first inning, four in the third and another in the fourth to grab the early lead before the Dons (11-4, 2-3) finally pushed their first run across in the fourth inning. Vanessa Moreno provided the first offensive spark when she singled in Devon Rodriguez before Mina Pavao's sacrifice fly scored Danielle Hernandez. Becky Poirier capped the Dons three-run inning with a RBI-double that scored Eryn Martinez and cut the Hawks lead to 7-3.

The Dons got one more run the sixth inning when Moreno reached on an error before eventually scoring on a bases loaded walk that was issued to Sabrina Perez. However, that was the only run the Dons got despite loading the bases with just one out. In total, the Dons left nine runners on base.

Santiago Canyon's final run came in the seventh inning when Morgan McGee was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, moved to third on a single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Krystal Hoham. The Dons ended the game with all three batters in the seventh being retired in order.

Devon Rodriguez (5-1) suffered her first loss of the season as she allowed seven runs, six earned, on seven hits in 3.1 innings pitched. Josie Tucker picked up the win in relief for the Hawks as she held the Dons to one run on just one hit over 3.2 innings pitched.