East County Sports

SDC: twin shutouts, with Bailey no-hitter

2023 SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN COLLEGE WOMEN’S SOFTBALL

 

ECS staff report

SANTEE – San Diego Christian College pitcher Kaitlyn Bailey, moments after teammate Ada Neu tossed a 4-hit shutout, topped the freshman by firing a no-hitter, lifting the Hawks to a double-header sweep of visiting Saint Katherine, 2-0 and 8-0, Friday (Feb. 10) in non-conference action at Sportsplex USA.

Kaitlyn Bailey

By taking the twinbill, San Diego Christian takes the trophy as the San Diego County small-college championship for the season. However, there will be much more meaning to the crown next season with the Firebirds become official members of the Golden State Athletic Conference.

Bailey, a senior from Temecula, is also a transfer from the North County school based in San Marcos. But that didn’t matter after she struck out five batters, then the Hawks offense scored three times in the sixth inning to invoke the run-rule to end the ballgame.

It was the season openers for Saint Katherine (0-2).

aAda Neu

The deciding run came home on a basehit by standout shortstop Emily Longtree — another former USK player.

Longtree leads the Hawks in batting average and several other offensive categories in the season’s early going., including a .429 average.

In the decisive sixth with the bases loaded, first baseman Alicia Corona belted her second double of the contest, driving in a pair of runs. Then Longtree drove home sophomore outfielder Maya Abrego with the winning run.

In the opener, Neu registered her first collegiate victory in striking out a pair of Firebirds and not allowing a runner to reachthird base. She was supported by single runs in the third and fifth frames.

Emily Longtree

Corona reached on an error, but when the defense elected to throw to third base to get the lead runner, the ball was misplayed and a runner scored.

Two innings later, Lisette Mejias singled but was out going to second base. However, that allowed the lead runner to score. In both cases, the run was scored by Marley Rimoldi (Steele Canyon), who batted 1-for-1 with a single and a walk.

San Diego Christian College (3-1 overall) next plays a double=header at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on the road next Friday. The Hawks return home on Thurs., Feb. 21, against the University of British Columbia.

PLAYER INTERVIEWS COMING MONDAY

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