Gilroy softball rips 10 hits in 11-0 win against St. Francis of
Mountain View
GILROY
Coming off a difficult 1-0 loss to Evergreen Valley on Tuesday, in a game where the host Cougars connected on just two hits, the Gilroy High softball team pounded out 10 hits and 11 runs in its home opener Wednesday in an all-too-easy 11-0 victory over visiting St. Francis of Mountain View.
The game was called in the fifth inning due to the mercy rule.
Gilroy hurler Sarah Lira was dominant in the shortened performance, allowing just two hits while striking out five Lancers to earn the win.
“She did really well,” GHS head coach Catherine Hallada said afterward. “Pitching against teams like that, you’ve got to go right at them and she did it. She did a good job.”
And Lira received more than enough run support from her teammates.
Gilroy plated 10 runs over the course of the third, fourth and fifth innings, including a seven-spot in the fourth frame.
“We needed to do that,” Hallada said. “We needed to wake up our bats and get them going today.”
After Gilroy grabbed a 3-0 lead in the third behind a pair of St. Francis throwing errors, the Mustangs blew the game open in the following inning when Emily Castro (2-for-3, RBI) connected on a double with one out and Dani Hemeon (2-for-2, RBI, 2 runs) batted her in with a liner into right field.
Following an Alissa Castro walk, Stephanie Rodriguez then trailed with an infield single to load the bases, and Jasmine Perez roped a two-run single into right field to make it 6-0 Mustangs.
The game was finally called in the fifth when Perez connected on an RBI single into right field, scoring Alissa Castro from second base.
Perez finished 2-for-3 and with four RBI.
“They played their game,” Hallada said. “As long as they do that for the rest of the season, they’ll be great. They’ll be fine.”
Gilroy (6-3-1) will return to the Annie Lynch Memorial Circle of Champions Tournament Saturday at the Salinas Sports Complex.
Gilroy will play San Benito (4-0) at 2 p.m.
