Hawks Take Series Over Dons

After dropping the second game of the three-game series on Thursday, the Santiago Canyon College softball team and the Santa Ana College Dons squared off in a rubber match of the three-game series in Orange Empire Conference (OEC) play Friday afternoon. The Hawks carted a scorching offense that fashioned 13 hits complimented by a strong pitching outing leading to a 9-2 victory.

Sophomore hurler Madison Lee took to the circle for the third-consecutive contest against to Dons and got off to a strong start. Despite giving up back-to-back singles to begin her outing, she forced a groundball double play to freshman shortstop Yazmine Garcia who tagged second and fired it over to freshman first baseman Kaitlin Murphy for a crucial two outs. Lee then forced a line drive out to sophomore left fielder Alyssa Patlan to exit the inning unscathed.

The Hawks' bats started churning in the bottom of the first inning as they plated three runs. Patlan turned great defense into offense and led the inning off with a base knock to right field. She continued to swipe second and third to quickly end up in scoring position. Garcia sent her home with a single to left field to start the flood. Sophomore backstop Raneem Kerdiya followed with a single to right field, backed by a single in the left-center gap off the bat of freshman designated player Isabella Altamirano to send Garcia trotting home. Freshman right fielder Tasneem Kerdiya ended the inning with a sac fly to center field, scoring R. Kerdiya, to snag an early 3-0 lead.

The Dons responded with two runs in the top of the second, but a Hawks' four spot in the bottom of the third inning distanced themselves with the lead.

R. Kerdiya kicked the inning off with a two-bagger to left field, backed by another hit from Altamirano. Freshman second baseman Calysta Maciel followed with a sac fly to right field to score R. Kerdiya. After two quick outs following the sacrifice fly, Murphy came through in the clutch with a two-RBI single to right field to score T. Kerdiya and freshman pinch runner Millie Maher. Freshman center fielder Haley Perez capped the frame with a single to right field, scoring freshman third baseman Kiana Bell, to regain the lead.

Lee settled in nicely after her second inning woes and kept the Dons off the scoreboard throughout the remainder of her outing. She found herself in a jam in the fifth inning that featured a one out double to threaten, but a fantastic relay chain consisting of Perez, Garcia and R. Kerdiya hosed a potential run at home. She finished the inning by forcing a lazy flyball out to Perez in center.

She finsihed her complete-game outing by retiring the next six batters she faced leading to a 9-2 win.

Lee (6-10) picked up the victory by going the distance and fanning two batters. She allowed a measly two runs on seven hits.

Five players connected for two hits with six players recording at least one RBI. Altamirano went 2-for-2 with an RBI, while R. Kerdiya went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Patlan went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases, while Maciel produced a 2-for-2 day at the dish with a run scored and an RBI.

Murphy drove in three RBI and scored once on a 1-for-3 day, while T. Kerdiya went 1-for-3 with two RBI.