COD Softball falls short in rematch with the Eagles, 9-7

COD (3-21; 1-10) tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning, but a big 5-run inning by the Mt. San Jacinto Eagles (12-15; 3-8) in the fifth inning, put the home side in a hole, falling 9-7.

The Roadrunners scored all of their runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, with sophomore right handed starting pitcher Yizel Nunez (Beaumont H.S.) going 3 for 4 from the plate, hitting in the two hole and scoring a run. Nunez also tossed seven complete innings, allowing nine runs, four earned, on eleven hits, walking two and striking out two.

Freshman second baseman and leadoff hitter Jada Toland (Indio Shadow Hills) went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and sophomore center fielder Malissa Nielsen (Palm Desert H.S.) also went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in.

Freshman right fielder Caitlin Clinkscales (Palm Springs H.S.) went 1 for 3 with two RBI's on the afternoon, including a bases clearing, opposite field double, to right field in the bottom of the fourth.

The Eagles hit the scoreboard first, putting two runs across in the top of the first and then both defenses and pitching staffs clamped down. 

Desert would tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth, when Nielsen led off the inning with a double to center and freshman third baseman Rebecca Alford (Thermal Coachella Valley) grabbed a walk, then Clinkscales placed a double to right field that just curved fair, just past the out-stretched glove of the Eagles outfielder, clearing the bases.

Mt. San Jacinto had other plans as they put five runs across in the top of the fifth, giving the Eagles a 7-2 lead. 

The Roadrunners would not relent as they plated two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to keep the game close. After Toland and Nunez hit back-to-back singles, the Eagles head coach had seen enough, and went to the bullpen for a relief pitcher. Sophomore short stop Taylor Stone (Palm Desert H.S.) would ground into the fielder's choice, which tagged Nunez out at second base. A single to center field by Nielsen, scored Toland from third base and a walk to Alford loaded the bases with one out. After a strike out, sophomore catcher Darbie Catalfamo (Indio Shadow Hills) collected a bases loaded walk to score Stone from third base, to make the score 7-4.

COD would surrender a one out, solo home run to the Eagles in the top of the sixth, but come back in the bottom of the sixth with three more runs. Toland would reach on a one out error by the Eagles third baseman and get to second on a Nunez single to right field. Then, Nielsen would crush a two out triple to right field, clearing the bases and would head home on a single to center by Alford, making the score 8-6.

The Eagles would add one more run in the seventh and the Roadrunners, with the bottom third of the order coming up, would fall in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Photo by Britney Vargas (COD Sports Information)
Information, Photos & Story provided by COD Sports Information.