GILROY — It was a classic pitchers’ duel between Gavilan and Monterey Peninsula College Tuesday. The Lobos’ Beverly Miller was good, but Rams pitcher Paige Miguel was better.
Gavilan edged MPC 1-0 to improve to 22-9 on the season, 8-4 in Coast Conference play behind the strong arm of Miguel. She went the distance, allowing only two hits while striking out eight.
“(I think about) just staying calm, staying even keel is how I put it,” Miguel said. “Just pitching like it’s a 0-0 ballgame at all times.”
MPC’s Beverly Miller was also stellar for her team, allowing just one run on three hits and one walk while striking out eight. Gavilan was able to get to her in the bottom of the second, however, when Kari Bittle hit a leadoff single and stole second to get in scoring position. Two batters later, Kayla Medrano hit a rocket to centerfield to bring Bittle home for the lone score of the game.
Bittle went 1 for 2 with a run and stolen base, while Medrano was 1 for 2 with an RBI.
Priscilla Orona had the only other hit for Gavilan, a double in the bottom of the sixth. She was able to reach third, but was stranded as the inning came to a close. Orona was 1 for 2 with a walk — the only one of the game.
“We weren’t hitting the ball like we normally do, but we were hitting the ball hard,” Dequin said. “She’s a great pitcher. We had the defense to back it up and we made it count when we needed to.”
Both defenses were solid with only one error committed a piece, but neither were costly. Miguel said knowing she has a solid defense makes her job in the circle easier and allows her to hone in on her pitches.
“We work really hard at practice,” the sophomore pitcher said. “Games like this it really shows when we’re making the plays that we practiced — it’s the little things. I have complete confidence in them. Errors happen, but when they happen we just pick each other up and that’s what we’re great at.”
Every win is vital for the Rams who sit at No. 2 in the conference behind Cabrillo and are looking to punch their ticket to the postseason.
“Our side of the conference is really, really tough,” Dequin said. “We just need to do what we do well. We usually hit the ball very well, we play great defense and we pitch well. We just have to continue to play well and be the best that we can be out here and see what happens.”
