Hollister
– San Benito’s ace pitcher Marisa Ibarra was vulnerable in the
first inning of Tuesday’s Tri-County Athletic League showdown with
Gilroy.
Hollister – San Benito’s ace pitcher Marisa Ibarra was vulnerable in the first inning of Tuesday’s Tri-County Athletic League showdown with Gilroy.
The sophomore walked the first two batters and later hit another to load the bases for the Mustangs.
But Gilroy failed to capitalize and the Mustangs’ chances were few and far between after that as they fell to the host Haybalers 7-0.
The loss ended a seven-game winning streak for Gilroy (17-5 overall, 2-2 TCAL), which came into the game on the heels of capturing the Charlie Miguel Tournament by beating TCAL leader Notre Dame in the finals.
Lauryn Chris and Brittany Balanesi both had extended at-bats before drawing walks. After a pop out, a wild pitch put runners at second and third.
Amanda Tellez followed by grounding out to third baseman Lizzy Gatto, with the runners staying put. Ibarra then hit Alicia Reese to load the bases before striking out Patty Olvera to end the threat.
“That was a big boost,” ‘Balers second baseman JC Clayton said. “We knew if we could get out of that, we could get out of a lot of things.”
The same couldn’t be said for Gilroy.
Already trailing 1-0 and facing a bases-loaded, no-out situation, Olvera battled Elena Fata to a 2-2 count before the San Benito shortstop unloaded for a grand slam for a 5-0 lead,.
After Lindsey Clay followed with a long triple to left field, Melinda Ortiz entered in relief of Olvera, who allowed five runs and six hits in two-plus innings.
Ortiz got through that inning without allowing any further damage and allowed a pair of unearned runs over her four innings of work.
After Ibarra’s first-inning struggles on the mound, she settled down nicely for the ‘Balers, who are 12-2 overall, 4-1 in TCAL.
The Mustangs didn’t get a hit until Caitlyn Pierotti led off the fifth win a single and finished with just three hits on the day. Chris and Olvera also collected singles.
Pierotti’s fifth-inning hit did help produce Gilroy only other threat of the day. She was forced out when Yolanda Esquivel reached on a fielder’s choice. Esquivel moved to second on a sacrifice by Kylie Herrada.
Chris followed by beating out an infield single, but when Esquivel rounded the bag at third, ‘Balers first baseman Audra Brown fired a strike to Gatto, who tagged her out in a rundown.
After an eight-day break, the Mustangs resume TCAL play at Salinas at 4:30pm April 12.
Gilroy 000 000 0 – 0 3 2
San Benito 005 0 1 1 x – 7 11 0
Olvera, Ortiz (3) and Balanesi. M. Ibarra and Perriera.
2B – Gatto (SB). 3B – Clayton (SB), Clay (SB), Scibuola (SB). HR – Fata (SB).
