Struggling Early in the Season
On Tuesday, March 4, the Santa Monica College (SMC) women’s softball team (0-4) fell to the Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC) Monarchs (10-11-1), 12-2. The Corsairs, returning from an away game against the Monarchs on Thursday, Feb. 27, were looking to get their revenge in today’s game after losing to the Monarchs 17-2 in their previous matchup.
The Monarchs started the top of the first inning off cautiously as Corsair pitcher Elizabeth Martinez struck out left fielder Tatiyana Valenzuela to start off the inning strong. As the inning went on, however, the Monarchs looked to seal a victory against the Corsairs.
The Monarchs scored four runs in the top of the first, with a run-batted-in (RBI) double from shortstop Rachel Lowry, an RBI on a fielder’s choice by third baseman Lana Siaotong-Munoz, and back-to-back wild pitches. These wild pitches led to Siaotong-Munoz and second baseman Briana Fierro scoring, before Martinez struck out designated player Francesca Vega and pitcher Kristjana Lewis Jr. to end the inning leading 4-0 against the Corsairs.
The Corsairs went hitless in the bottom of the first as catcher Anahys Patino grounded out to first. Left fielder Danaly Santos and shortstop Jasmine Arana both struck out, ending the inning scoreless.
The Monarchs continued their run in the top of the second inning, scoring one run from another RBI double from Lowry to lead 5-0 against the Corsairs. In the bottom of the second inning, first baseman Hal’ia Jimenez recorded the Corsairs’ first hit of the night, but the Corsairs were not able to take advantage of this as the next three batters were out.
An RBI double down the right field line from Lewis Jr. extended the Monarchs’ lead to six in the top of the third, but that was all the noise they were able to make in the third inning. The Corsairs riled back in the bottom of the third, giving Lewis Jr. her toughest inning yet by giving up an RBI double from Arana.
Now trailing 6-2, Jimenez walked, Martinez singled to first while Jimenez advanced to second, and Arana advanced to third. With the bases loaded, third baseman Jade Patlan stepped up to the plate to potentially tie up the game, which would give the Corsairs an opportunity to win the game. Patlan ultimately struck out, ending the third inning with the Corsairs trailing by four runs.
In the final two innings of the game, the Monarchs scored six runs, while the Corsairs went hitless, ending the game in the bottom of the fifth inning via the mercy rule.
“We have to be a little bit more consistent all the way through from the first inning, all the way for as long as we can stay out here,” said Corsairs’ head coach Christine Druckman. “We obviously did better than Thursday's game and did better than Tuesday's game, so as long as we're moving in that right direction, that's a good thing.”
With a positive outlook on the game, the Corsairs will play away games at Ventura College and Moorpark College on March 6 and March 11, both at 2:30 p.m., before returning to play Santa Barbara City College at home on Thursday, Mar. 13, at 2:30 p.m. to seek their first win.