Hawks unsuccessful in challenge of APU

SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN HAWKS SOFTBALL

ECS staff report

SANTEE – San Diego Christian College owns a long history playing against Azusa Pacific University in a wide variety of sports – but not in women’s softball.

By the time the Hawks added the sport to its program in 2014, the Cougars had left the NAIA Golden State Athletic Conference, elevating to NCAA Division II status following the 2012 season when they posted a stellar 42-11 record.

Thus, Tuesday’s (Mar. 9) first-ever meeting on the softball diamond between the schools proved most challenging for SDCC, which made a strong showing against a superior opponent.

Azusa Pacific was gracious enough to travel south for the initial doubleheader, claiming a sweep by scores of 8-5 and 10-3 at Sportsplex USA.

The setbacks hardly detracted from the Hawks ballclub (7-5 overall) clearly making strides to compete with a majority of smaller, West Coast colleges.

Game 1:  San Diego Christian gave their big sisters a late scare by posting four runs in the seventh inning, eventually leaving the potential game-tying run on deck before succumbing to the Cougars.

Keeley Davis and Megan Flores each stroked consecutive 2-run singles (Davis to left; Flores to center) to carve into the deficit. But with no one out, APU relief pitcher Aly Montesino, a left-hander, entered and notched three straight outs for the save.

Second baseman Lisette Mejias and center fielder Kayla Dominguez each had two hits for the Hawks,  Both scored in the seventh.

Game 2: The Hawks bolted to a 3-0 lead in the first, but after the Cougars cut the gapto 3-2,they added five runs in the fifth to finally gain control.

Davis, the catcher, delivered an RBI single with another run scoring on an error for a quick 2-0 advantage.

Seven different Hawks contributed base hits. Amaryssa Medina, the top SDCC pitcher, tossed 3.1 innings over the two contests, yielding just one earned run to Azusa Pacific (6-2).

San Diego Christian concludes its season-opening, 16-game homestand by returning to GSAC action this weekend, hosting Vanguard University in twin bills on both Friday and Saturday at Sportsplex USA. Both start at noon.