Hawks circumvent Mariners’ advantage

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: February 15, 2022

2022 SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN HAWKS SOFTBALL

ECS staff report

COMPTON — A key strategy point that is often forgotten when the International Tie-breaker is invoked: since there is a runner automatically placed at second base, an open base is now available at first base, so a ballclub may avoid pitching to an opponent’s dangerous batter.

San Diego Christian College took full advantage of the often-ignored game plan, turning a clean-sheet contest into Friday’s (Feb. 11) overtime victory, 2-0 in 8 innings, over host Marymount California University.

Hawks pitching ace Amaryssa Medina, holding the lead for the first time after her teammates scored twice in the top of the eighth innings, started her attempt at a complete-game shutout by striking out the first pair of Mariners batters.

However, senior center fielder Shannelle Sablan, a senior who has made a career of supplying misery to the Hawks, stepped to the plate. So Medina simply walked her, then recorded her third strikeout of the inning — the final of her 12 K’s — to complete her two-hit shutout.

Medina’s ledger so far this season is simple three starts and three victories, all in the first game of an SDCC double-header. Yet like the other twin bills, the Hawks dropped the second game, this time 7-6 — is level the club’s overall record to 3-3 overall.

Following seven solid innings by Medina and MUC pitcher Annalisa Panuco, the Hawks broke through in the eighth.

With Emily Longtree placed on second base, a bunt by the cavalier Maya Abrego turned into an infield single to place runners on the corners.

Moments later, the home=grown Alicia Corona of Chula Vista lined a basehit to left field to break the scoreless pitcher’s duel.

Medina came to the plater but was rudely hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Steele Canyon product Marley Rimoldi backed her pitcher with a perfect squeeze bunt, with the only play for the defense going to first base as the insurance run came home.

For the contest Corona and freshman catcher Hailey Morgan-Voyce each batter 2-for-4.

In the second game, Abrego continued her hot hitting by going 2-for-3 with a walk, but Marymount California (1-5) rallied from a 6-5 deficit with a walk-off win after scoring twice in the seventh to snap a season-long 5-game losing skid.

San Diego Christian will host Westcliff University on Tuesday (Feb. 15) at Sportsplex USA in Santee, starting at noon.