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Saddleback College Athletics

Cats shut down Pirates in opener

Saddleback now 13 games above .500 for the first time since the 2014-15 season

This image is a sports graphic announcing the final score of a softball game between Orange Coast College (OCC) and Saddleback College (SC). Visual Overview The background shows a softball player in a red and white striped uniform mid-pitch on a dirt mound. She is wearing a red visor and has her right arm extended upward, ready to release the ball. In the foreground, the blurry silhouette of a batter in a blue helmet is visible, facing the pitcher. The field has green grass in the outfield and brown dirt in the infield.
c/o Ben Kokkelenberg
Box Score
April 14, 2026

The Saddleback softball team won its fourth straight game with a 5-0 victory over Orange Coast College on Tuesday at Bobcats Field.  The Bobcats lead the Orange Empire Conference by one game in the standings with five games remaining.

Saddleback took control of the game in the bottom half of the second inning when it scored four times for a 4-0 advantage.  The Bobcats had some help from the Orange Coast defense as an untimely error led to three unearned-runs in the inning.  Saddleback had four hits and a walk in the inning, scoring the final three runs with two outs in the inning.

Saddleback increased the lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Colette Howren led off the inning with a walk and the Bobcats inserted Jenna Juarez into the game as a pinch runner to get more speed on the base paths.  Juarez eventually came around to score on a single from Lehua Garcia to add an insurance run.

Howren started on the mound and pitched a complete game in improving to 13-4 on the season.  She struck out five while allowing just three hits and one walk for the game.

Four Saddleback players finished with two hits on the afternoon.  Lola Winningham reached base three times, finishing 2-for-3 with a walk.

Saddleback is now 24-11 overall and 12-4 in Orange Empire Conference play following the win.  The Bobcats currently lead the OEC by one game over both Cypress and Fullerton. 

Saddleback and Orange Coast will resume the three-game series at Orange Coast on Thursday at 2:00 PM. 

GAME NOTE:  Saddleback is now 13 games above .500 for the first time since the 2014-2015 season when the team reached 15 games over .500 at one point during the season.