SANTA ANA - The Dons seemed poised to record their second-straight game with a walk-off, three-run home run but it wasn't in the cards today as they fell to Cypress College 8-6. The loss drops the Dons to 16-5 overall and 5-4 in conference while Cypress improves to 14-5 and 6-3.
The Chargers used three big innings to turn a 2-0 SAC lead into an 8-2 lead with four runs in the fourth and two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. But the Dons wouldn't go down without a fight, mounting a late rally.
Cynthia Rice started the Dons four-run, sixth inning with a leadoff, pinch hit single before Keila Tenorio reached on a fielder's choice. An error on that play allowed Rice to reach third base before Annie Dowling doubled both runners in to cut the score to 8-4.
After a sacrifice bunt by Paolena Comouche advanced Dowling to third followed by a strikeout for the second out, Emily Whitecavage doubled to centerfield to score Dowling. Alyssa Yglesias followed with a RBI-single that scored Whitecavage and made the game 8-6.
Chantal Oelrich then pitched a perfect seventh inning, giving the Dons one more opportunity at the plate. After the first out was recorded, Rice singled up the middle of the infield before a ground out moved her to second.
The game seemed over on a ground ball to second base, but an error on the play allowed Dowling to reach safely while also advancing Rice to third. Representing the game-winning run, Heather Robertson pinch hit for the Dons much like she did on Wednesday. However, she was unable to duplicate her walk-off home run from Wednesday and Cypress held on for the victory.
The Dons first two runs came in the first and second inning. Whitecavage scored the game's first run on a triple by Natalie Wolf before Dowling doubled in Tenorio in the second.
Lindsey Esparza (6-2) took the loss as she allowed four runs on seven hits in 3.1 innings of work. Desiree Lopez (9-5) pitched a complete game for the Chargers to record the win. She finished with six runs allowed, three earned, on 12 hits with eight strikeouts.
