In a pitcher’s duel, Gabriella Howard drew the short stick on Christopher’s loss to Notre Dame 1-0.
“I think this is a good game to help us prepare us for CCS because I know we are going to face a lot of different teams like this so in order to get to that potential and that next level this is the kind of game we need to play,” Howard said.
The game’s only run came in the sixth on Lauren Pullara RBI single after Spencer Hyosaka led the inning with a single to left center and was moved to second base on Kaeli Bush’s bunt. Howard hit the next batter to put runners on second and first with one out, but she got the next two batters to line out and pop out to end the inning.
Getting out of trouble is what Howard did best. The Spirits tried to start a two-out rally in the third with back-to-back singles, but Howard, after a wild pitch that moved the runners to second and third, put an end to it by getting a groundball to third base to end the inning.
“She’s been our horse for two years now,” Christopher coach Julian Santiago. “She’s just been doing it, putting us on her back and doing a great job.”
Notre Dame looked to increase their lead in the seventh when they had runners on first and second on a single and walk. Howard got Hyosaka to line out to center field and Bush to ground out.
Howard pitched a complete game allowing seven hits, all singles, and only one walk.
On the other side of the plate, the Cougar offense was not able to figure out Notre Dame’s pitcher Vanessa Gonzalez. Christopher only had two hits, which came in the second inning. Sarah Starks led with a single and a batter later Haley Berube also hit a single. Christopher looked to strike first but a fielder’s choice and a strike out ended the threat.
“I thought all in all we were hitting the ball well it’s just kind of the wind aspect, but it was good,” Howard said.
Only two Cougars struck out in the game.
Despite all the troubles the offense was having, Christopher had an opportunity to tie the game in the sixth. Brianna Budelli led the inning with a walk. Antonia Martinez bunted and the Notre Dame defense tried to get the lead runner out at second, but the throw was late. Juliana Santiago bunted to advance the runners and the Cougars were on the driver’s seat with runners on second and third with one out.
“They (Christopher) do a good job of making the pitchers work, getting on base any way we can,” coach Santiago said.
The clutch hit never arrived.
Gonzalez got the next batter to pop out. She intentionally walked Starks to load the bases and face Kalena Paredes. Paredes hit a line drive to right field, but the outfielder tracked it down to end the inning.
“We just have full confidence whoever is going to go up there,” coach Santiago said. “You win some and you lose some.”
Christopher will travel to Hollister to face division leader San Benito on May 9 and Host Gilroy on May 11 to end the regular season.
