Cats sweep past Dons

The Saddleback softball team won its fourth straight game with an 8-1 victory over Santa Ana College on Friday in Santa Ana.  The Bobcats are now seven games above .500 for the first time this season.

Saddleback wasted no time in getting the bats going, scoring twice in the opening inning to take a 2-0 lead.  Millie Maher led off the game with a single to center field and was later brought home on a single from Ka'ui Garcia.  Three batters later, Alexis Vanhorn singled to right field and Garcia scored the second run of the inning.

Saddleback led 4-1 heading into the fifth inning when they broke the game wide open.  The Bobcats took advantage of four defensive errors by the Dons, scoring four unearned runs in taking an 8-1 lead.  In total, Santa Ana made eight errors in the field for the day in allowing the Cats to score five unearned runs.

Saddleback started Isabelle Gedeon on the mound, but she was lifted after three batters in favor of Colette Howren, who managed to get out of a bases loaded jam by only giving up one run.  Howren pitched the remainder of the game, spreading around five hits while striking out 10 in improving to 6-2 on the season. 

Garcia led the offense, finishing 4-for-5 at the plate with two RBI and two runs-scored.  Maher had a stolen base for a fifth straight game and is now 11-for-11 in attempts for the year.

Saddleback improved to 15-7 overall and 3-0 in Orange Empire Conference play with the win.  The Bobcats will continue conference play next week with a three-game series against Golden West College.  The Cats and Rustlers will open the series at Bobcats Field on Tuesday at 2:00 PM.