By Fernando Alcantara
Western Sun sports editor
Ending a seven-game losing streak, the Golden West softball team defeated the Santiago Canyon College Hawks by a score of 5-4 at home, Wednesday afternoon on Feb. 17.
With the score tied at four in the bottom of the seventh, Sophomore Caitlyn Sciacca hit a ground single to third base to send Sheila Samarin home for the win, putting a much needed “W” in the win column, bettering the GWC softball team’s record to 4-7.
Trailing Santiago Canyon 3-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Brooke Hitchcock, Sheila Samarin and Tanya Dowler each hit singles, loading the bases.
A hit by Nichelle Navarro to right field sent her out at first, but enabled Hitchcock to steal home to tie the score.
With Samarin on third and Dowler on second, Caitlyn Sciacca stepped to the plate; hit a ground single to third base, which the Hawks could not put a grasp on.
The juggling was enough for Sciacca to send Samarin home for the winning run.
“It’s a good win, it’s a good feeling,” Sophomore Nichelle Navarro said after the game. “We need to play like this for the rest of the season.”
The win was precisely the medicine that Coach Suzy Brazney felt the team needed. Coming off seven straight losses, losses that included games from tournament play in Arizona, the GWC women needed a mental boost.
“We’re definitely in shape,” Coach Brazney commented before the game. “We tend to lose focus and fall behind early.”
Beating Santiago Canyon was something the GWC women all believed they had the ability to do. Wednesday’s game was the first meeting for GWC and SCC and the GWC women all felt they matched up against SCC very well.
“They’re a decent team, but I know we can beat them.” Infielder and GWC Sophomore Lauren Beard said before the game.
The Santiago Canyon Hawks came out aggressively in the first inning, getting their
first two batters on base and sending both those runners in after the first 10 minutes of play. Golden West countered with its first turn at bat with Sciacca hitting a double to send Dowler in for the first run for GWC.
Before the end of the first inning and runners on first and third, Kristen Douglas singles, batting in Sciacca to tie the score at two. With two outs in the bottom of the third and Samarin on third base, Navarro would hit a ground single towards third base, sending Samarin in giving GWC the lead at 3-2.
GWC’s lead would not last long as a bad pitch allows an SCC player to steal home for the tie.
Defense is the name of the game for the fourth and fifth innings as neither team scores until a fly ball in the top of the sixth. SCC’s Emily Pulanski sends Ashley Flatten home to give SCC the lead.
Changing pitchers and catchers in the top of the seventh, GWC attempts to overwhelm Santiago Canyon with fresh arms.
Santiago manages to load the bases, but strong defensive play by Golden West halts SCC’s offense, giving GWC their last turn at bat.
