Dons Rally to Beat Santiago Canyon in Extra Innings
After trailing 3-0 late in the game, the Dons rallied late before Alexandra Perkins delivered with a two-out single in the ninth inning to give the Dons the 4-3 win over rival Santiago Canyon College.
After trailing 3-0 late in the game, the Dons rallied late before Alexandra Perkins delivered with a two-out single in the ninth inning to give the Dons the 4-3 win over rival Santiago Canyon College.
The Hawks (12-17, 6-7) jumped out early when Chelsea Navarrete hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. They extended their lead to 3-0 in the fifth when Katie Denio reached on an infield single before scoring on a RBI-groundout by Morgan McGee.
But the Dons (16-8, 7-6), known for their late inning heroics, refused to give up without a fight. Perkins led the sixth inning off with a walk before scoring the Dons first run of the game on a double to centerfield by Angelica Cesena.
Cesena came around to score three batters later on a RBI-single by Hannah Dowling. Cheyanne Tovar, who walked prior to Dowling's single, scored the tying run later in the inning on a wild pitch.
Both teams went down in order in the seventh inning, sending the game into extra innings. The Hawks threatened in the eighth but left runners at second and third as Kaitlyn Hooper pitched out of a jam.
After Hooper retired the side in order in the top of the ninth inning, she reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the ninth. However, she was thrown out at third in the next at bat when Sonia Florido reached on an error.
Florido then moved to second on a passed ball before Rachel Prentice flew out to center for the second out. Perkins followed with the game-winning single through the right side that narrowly missed Florido who came around to score.
Hooper (13-7) picked up the win as she pitched the entire game. Her final line was three runs, all earned, on six hits over nine innings. Kortney Loar suffered the loss for Santiago Canyon as she allowed the final run in 3.1 innings of relief.
