Hawks’ sweep of La Sierra contrasting
- Updated: March 1, 2021
2021 SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN HAWKS SOFTBALL
ECS staff report
SANTEE – It took two attempts, yet the San Diego Christian College women’s softball team was again able to walk-off an opponent, this time breaking the hearts of La Sierra University, 7-6, in the first game of Friday afternoon’s (Feb. 26) at Sportsplex USA.
The Hawks completed the sweep with a 5-inning trouncing of the Golden Eagles, 11-1.
Once again, Hawks center fielder Kayla Dominguez provided the walk-off winner, although everyone thought the batter in front of her, Katherine Martinez, completed the ballclub’s rally from a mid-game deficit of 6-3.
A hit-by-pitch and a pair of bunt singles loaded the bases, then Martinez lifted a liner to left field for an apparent sacrifice fly. However, Golden Eagles defender Adrianna Reyes fired a strike to catcher Kirstin Mullen for the out at the plate.
No problem. Dominguez again proved to dominate with the bat, mirroring her effort against Saint Katherine on Wednesday by again lining a base hit to center for the winning run.
La Sierra snapped a 3-3 contest with three runs in the fourth, but the Hawks answered with a two-out rally, posting three markers in the sixth to get even.
Erika Silva and Hannah Springs both singled, then a ground ball by Lisette Mejias was booted by the second baseman for an unearned run.
Megan Flores followed with another grounder to the right side, but this time, the second baseman’s dive for the ball missed, as the 2-run single knotted the contest.
The pitching victory went to Gizel Mendez, who tossed three innings of shutout ball to keep SDCC in the contest before the late comeback. The junior struck out three without a walk, allowing just a pair of base hits.
Dominguez, who was dropped from second to sixth in the batting order, was one of five Hawks to collect two hits in the 14-hit attack. She was joined by the new top of the lineup with multiple-hit outings: Springs, Mejias, Keelee Davis, and clean-up hitter Brianna Duncan.
The second game was also tied early before the San Diego Christian bats woke up.
After La Sierra tied the contest at 1-all in the second, the Hawks erupted for a 9-spot in the last half of the frame.
Katie Thompson opened the outburst with a triple, they faked the pitcher by not racing home on a ground ball by Alicia Corona which went for an infield single. Corona stole second base, then both Hawks came home on Springs double for a 3-1 lead. Springs scored with Dominguez followed with an RBI single to right field.
A series of five wild pitches allowed three additional runs to score, then Springs came up a second time and delivered a 2-run single.
Springs, the first baseman who was batting leadoff, also started the first inning with a solo home run. The junior from Spokane, Wash., finished the contest batting 3-for-4 with five RBI and 5-for-8 for the doubleheader.
Hawks pitcher Amaryssa Medina finished with a complete-game 2-hitter. The lone run was unearned.
The Hawks, which had lost six straight to La Sierra, now owns a 4-game winning streak over the Golden Eagles.
San Diego Christian (6-2 overall) next hosts Simpson University of Redding on Monday (March 1), starting at noon from Sportsplex. La Sierra is winless in four starts.
