Cats even series
Rubber match tomorrow at Bobcats Field
The Saddleback softball team defeated Golden West College, 11-5, on Thursday afternoon in Huntington Beach. The Bobcats and Rustlers will play the rubber game on Friday at Bobcats Field.
Saddleback led 3-2, heading into the top half of the seventh inning when the Bobcats exploded to put the game out of reach. Saddleback scored seven runs in the inning, sending 12 batters to the plate. The Bobcats had seven hits in the inning, including five straight hits with two outs in the inning. Ka'ui Garcia and Ehva Cifuentes-Zombulovic both had two hits in the inning and the Bobcats scored six unearned runs after a defensive miscue from the Rustler defense.
Meanwhile, Saddleback started Colette Howren on the mound, and she pitched six solid innings in improving to 7-2 on the season. Howren struck out nine Golden West batter before giving way to Isabelle Gedeon in the seventh inning.
Garcia, Cifuentes-Zombulovic and Makayla Mendoza all had two hits apiece for the offense.
Saddleback is now 16-8 overall and 4-1 in Orange Empire Conference play. The Bobcats and Rustlers are both tied atop the OEC standings through five games. Saddleback and Golden West will conclude the series on Friday at Saddleback at 2:00 PM.