Gaitan's Five Hits Help Vaqueros Run-Rule Santa Monica

By Jimmy Friery

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara City College Softball team (9-12, 2-1) run-ruled Santa Monica on Thursday at Pershing Park in a high-scoring affair, 16-8. The Vaqueros used 18 hits—but only two for extra bases—in their offensive barrage, with five coming from shortstop Mia Gaitan alone.

The visitors used four straight two-out singles to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. In hindsight, that could not have mattered less to the swing-happy Vaqueros. Six-hole hitter Aleena Madrid's RBI fielder's choice was the first out of the bottom half, scoring the Vaqueros' third run and tying the game at 3-3.

Bella Cox's single in the second gave the hosts the lead, but Santa Monica took it right back with two in the next half-inning. Santa Barbara immediately punched back, scoring three more to take a 7-5 after just three innings.

Finally, getting some breathing room, the Vaqueros increased their lead to 11-5 in the fourth. Two bases-loaded walks, a single, and a fielder's choice plated four runs. In the bottom of the fifth, Sammi Korte ripped an RBI triple and then scored on a sac fly to make it 13-6.

Santa Monica hit a two-run homer in the top of the sixth to shrink the Vaqueros' lead to 13-8. The Vaqueros' offense would shut the door, though, using four singles and a walk—without recording an out—to plate three runs and trigger the eight-run mercy rule at 16-8.

Gaitan's fifth hit of the day is technically credited as a walk-off as it scored the 15th and 16th runs, thus ending the game. Her perfect 5-for-5 day helped the Vaqueros score in all six of their offensive innings.

Korte was next on the leaderboard with three hits, with Cox and Ruby Bartholomew each tallying two hits. Bartholomew doubled to account for the team's first of two extra base hits on the day. Cox also reached two more times via walk.

Conference play continues for the Vaqueros this weekend as they travel to Los Angeles Mission on Saturday at 12 p.m. They will be back at Pershing Park next Tuesday for a midday doubleheader against East Los Angeles.