Dons Win Third Straight with Victory over Saddleback

Desiree Hernandez picked up the win as she held Saddleback to three runs, two earned, on six hits over seven innings.
Desiree Hernandez picked up the win as she held Saddleback to three runs, two earned, on six hits over seven innings.

SANTA ANA - The Dons evened their season series with Saddleback College following their 6-3 win in an Orange Empire Conference game. The win extends the Dons win streak to three games, all in OEC play, and improves their overall record to 10-16 and their conference record to 5-7. The Gauchos fall to 12-14 on the season with the loss and 5-7 in conference.

Alexandra Hernandez got things started with her two-run triple in the second inning that scored Madison Graham and Allison Benitez. Graham reached on a walk and Benitez doubled to right-centerfield prior to the triple.

After Saddleback scored a run on a wild pitch in the top of the third inning, the Dons added three runs, all unearned, in the bottom of the third as the Gauchos committed four errors. Tina Ramos scored on an error before Mercedes Munoz scored on a sacrifice fly by Hattie Marshall. Christina McCullogh scored the third run of the inning when Benitez reached on an error.

The Gauchos came back with two runs in the fourth inning to cut the lead to 5-3 as they took advantage of a Dons error. One of the two runs came in unearned as Gabriella Ertle singled in Lyndcee Barragato, who singled, and Madison Newby, who reached on an error.

The Dons final run came across in the fifth inning when McCullogh singled in Munoz, who hit a leadoff single to start the frame.

Desiree Hernandez (7-10) got the complete game win as she held the Gauchos to three runs, two earned, on six hits. Nelsa Delagente (11-14) took the loss as she allowed six runs, three earned, on six hits over six innings.