Rally time scores nine for Hawks

ECS staff report

SANTEE – Posting a record-tying rally in the fifth inning, the San Diego Christian College women’s softball rallied from a 7-0 deficit with a nine-run explosion, stunning visiting Saint Katherine, 9-7 to forge a split of Thursday’s (Feb. 18) non-conference doubleheader.

The Firebirds took the opener, 7-2, in action held at Sportsplex USA. They were later well on the way to a sweep, but the Hawks responded with their biggest single-inning outburst in six seasons.

Erika Silva and Jodi Thomasian buoyed the rally with consecutive pinch-hit doubles to lead off the frame.

Gizel Mendez followed with an RBI single to score Thomasian to make it 7-2, then a series of base hits and walks allowed SDCC to chip away, including an RBI single by Kayla Domingues.

Keelee Davis followed with a 2-run double as the ninth Hawks batter without the team registering an out.

Silva recorded her second double of the inning, bringing home the go-ahead runs.

Despite allowing 14 runs over the first 11 innings in two games, the Hawks bullpen came through to salvage a split thanks to a pair of shutout frames by reliever Jessica Shoen.  She saved the victory for Angel Valdez, who survived a pair of lead singles in the fifth, but escaped when catcher Keelee Davis threw out a Firebirds runner trying to steal third base, a ground ball out, then a Valdez strikeout.

It was a sharp contrast to the teams’ first meeting when SDCC pitchers turned in a pair of 2-hitters.

San Diego Christian (3-1) completes its 6-game series with USK next week with an 11 a.m. doubleheader on Wed., Feb. 24, also at the Sportsplex.