Hawks win wild one, split with USK
- Updated: February 24, 2021
2021 SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN HAWKS SOFTBALL
ECS staff report
SANTEE – With a flare for the dramatic, the San Diego Christian College women’s softball team survived a wild pair of final innings Wednesday (Feb. 24), as Kayla Domingues delivered a walk-off, 2-run single to lift the Hawks past University of Saint Katherine, 8-7, in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader.
The Firebirds took the nightcap, 13-6, to split the event, held at Sportsplex USA. However, the decisions give SDCC a 4-2 advantage in the season-opening six-game series between the county’s two NAIA sports programs.
Game 1 should have been a ton easier for the Hawks.
Starting pitcher Amaryssa Medina again flirted with a no-hitter, entering the sixth inning with a clean slate, But suddenly, someone turned on the faucet.
USK ended the no-hit bid on a 3-run homer.
Medina hadn’t allowed a hit until the top of the sixth inning. But Saint Katherine’s first hit of the game was a big one. Immediately following a pair of walks, freshman Addi Betts slugged a 3-run shot giving the Firebirds a 4-3 lead.
SDCC answered with two runs to take a 5-4 lead into the seventh, courtesy of a 2-run throwing error by the second baseman.
The seventh proved even crazier.
The Firebirds, with just one hit against Medina in 13 innings this season, fought back with another 3-run rally to take the lead. Tatyana Carvajal tied the contest with an RBI single through the left side, then she scored the second of two runs on a 2-run single by Haley O’Rourke for a 7-5 advantage.
However, San Diego Christian busted through again.
Two walks and an RBI single by Jodi Thomasian moved the Hawks close, then University City product Erika Silva singled to load the bases with no one out.
Domingues, a 5-foot-2 freshman center fielder, followed by delivering the game-winner on a base hit up the middle. Mesa College transfer Jessica Schoen was the winning pitcher in relief.
For SDCC, SIlva and Hannah Springs recorded two hits each.
In Game 2, Saint Katherine (2-10 overall) scored twice over the first four innings, then added five more markers in the seventh to pull away.
For the Hawks, Noemi Farfan of Chula Vista and Silva had two hits each, while Katherine Martinez belted a triple and stole a pair of bases (not on the same at-bat).
San Diego Christian (4-2) will host La Sierra on Friday in a doubleheader, also at Sportsplex USA.
