Santa Ana Softball Off to Hot Start

SANTA ANA, Calif. - In the second week of the 2022 softball season, the Dons picked up a couple wins to bring their record to 4-0. 

GAME 1

On Wednesday, SAC shutout Southwestern (0-9) by a score of 12-0 as Emily Rosas and Amanda Mendoza allowed just three hits while striking out seven batters over five innings of work. 

Santa Ana's offense did damage throughout the lineup with six different players recording hits and five players bringing at least one run in.

Airilin Ramirez and Alana Rangsuebsin led the way with a hit and three RBI's each. 

GAME 2

On Friday, the Dons hosted El Camino (4-1) in the first game of a three team crossover, which turned out to be a thriller as the teams battled for eight innings.

Santa Ana struck first in the bottom of the second as Airilin Ramirez delivered an RBI single to bring in Breanna Padilla for a 1-0 lead. But that lead didn't last long with El Camino using its speed and timely hitting to rally for four runs in the next half inning, giving the Warriors a 4-1 lead. 

From there, the Dons began to slowly chip away at the lead, scoring runs in every inning until the seventh.

After hitting extra innings, Rosas still looked fresh as she held the Warriors scoreless in the eighth to set up the Don offense. 

Following a Padilla walk and great base running on a sacrifice bunt, the Dons found themselves in a position to win with her standing on third with just one out.

Iyari Ramirez then executed a squeeze call, getting a bunt down the first base line to bring home Padilla for a walk-off win. 

GAME 3

It was a pitcher's duel in game three of the week as SAC's Emily Rosas and Ventura's Ashlyn Flinchum allowed just one run over four and half innings. 

Ventura scored the lone run of the game in the top of the fourth when Leanna De La Cruz tripled into right center and then was brought home on a double from Ciana Garcia. 

Due to daylight, the game was halted in the bottom of fifth and is to be resumed on a later date. 

NEXT UP

The Dons will be on the road this week with a rematch against College of the Desert (0-2) on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. followed by a powerhouse matchup at Palomar (5-0) on Friday at noon. 

Release by Cammie Lewis, Santa Ana SID