March 23, 2024

Warriors 10-0 in the Cal Pac, Win First DH Over Benedictine

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By Francisco Claudio

The Westcliff softball team is on a roll and has won all 10 of their conference games this season with the latest wins coming on Friday over Benedictine Mesa 6-2 and 5-4.

The Warriors are one of only two unbeaten teams in the Cal Pac regular season so far.
 
The other team is the reigning champions, ERAU.
 
In Game 1, Airilin Ramirez was easily finding contact with the bat as she went 3-for-3 with an RBI and one scored run.
 
A. Ramirez started things off for the Warriors with a single to right field in the first inning. She would advance to second after a throwing error from right field to put her in position to score the first run.
 
Two outs later, Kassandra Ramos made contact with the bat, bringing A. Ramirez home for the first run.
 
Westcliff took control of the game and would score three runs in the second, one in the third inning, and one more in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Heading into the top of the 7th, the Warriors were up 6-0.
 
Benedictine Mesa put up a fight in the final inning and was able to score two runs but Etta Van Burgsteden took care of business on the mound and trusted in her defense to get the job done as well.
 
Starting pitcher Emily Rosas went four innings allowing no runs and just one hit.
 
Alex Corrales threw for 2.1 innings and allowed two runs on three hits.
 
Van Burgsteden threw for the final two-thirds of the seventh inning and allowed just one hit.
 
Head Coach Brandon Wallace was happy with the results of the first game but knew that the second game of the doubleheader would be a tough one.
 
"Going into the second game we knew it was going to be a dog fight," Wallace said. "But we set a goal and created a plan to reach that goal. Our offense was going to come out swinging and put in some runs and have Emily go about four or five innings and then we would go off the bench.
 
"It was enough to get the 'W'."
 
Indeed, the Warriors secured the victory, but the home team had to work hard for it.
 
Westcliff was up 5-2 going into the top of the 7th but had Benedictine runners on second and third base.
 
After throwing for five innings and exiting the game, Rosas's number was called again to try and close it out.
 
And even though two runs were scored in the seventh, Rosas tallied her only strikeout of the second game on the last batter to give the Warriors the win, 5-4.
 
"We had told Em that we would probably go back to her, so she needed to be ready in the bullpen and have her mind right," Wallace said. "We knew we were going to come back with her and she knew she'd have to go back in and we were able to execute and get it done."
 
A. Ramirez continued her momentum from the first game by going 2-for-3 and scoring two more runs.
 
Siana San Vicente was huge and hit 3-for-4 with 3 RBI.
 
With the wins, the Warriors (16-12, Cal Pac 10-0) continue their fairy-tale run as the season comes into its last couple of weeks.
 
But before that, they have one more doubleheader to take care of before this series is finished.
 
What will be the key factors that will get the wins?
 
"Go back to Game 1, being very disciplined in the box, swinging in our zone, and attacking the count early," Wallace said.
 
The second doubleheader will take place on Sunday, March 23rd, with the first pitch at 11 a.m.
 
The games will be held at Fullerton College.