By Josh Lowden
(Alhambra) – After blowing a two run lead and allowing Keppel to tie the game, the Schurr Spartans pulled ahead in the final two innings en route to a 7-3 victory Tuesday afternoon.
In the sixth, Aisha Ruiz got on third after hitting a single, and advancing two bases off of two Aztec errors. After Alexandria Ocampo’s fly was caught in foul territory, Ruiz tagged third and crossed the plate for the go ahead run.
The Spartans used the seventh inning to extend their lead. With the bases loaded and one out, Jessica Rivera and Emily Sanchez were batted in on a Megan Coronado single. Ruiz would get an RBI of her own, hitting a single that allowed Kandace Mendez to give the Spartans their final run of the day.
“We told them that we needed to win every inning,” said Schurr head coach Jackie Montanez . “The sixth and seventh, to me, were most crucial.”
Schurr first took the lead in the fourth inning. Trailing 1-0, Ruiz, who was on base after being walked, scored the tying run of Ocampos’ single. Jacklyn Zacarias came up huge with a solid hit to right field, which turned into a in-the-park home run due to Keppel not having a fence.
The Aztecs would slowly battle back.
With two outs in the fourth, Brittani Hirose connected for a triple which allowed Amanda Ruacho to cut the deficit to one.
The action carried over into the fifth. Shanee Medina, who was on second after singling and advancing on a sacrifice bunt, finally scored as Melissa Valdez hit a hard single to center field.
Medina had a solid day batting and on the mound, going three for three and a walk while striking out seven. She also had a in-the-park homerun in the first inning.
“It showed we have a lot of heart,” said Aztecs Coach Bobby Madrid. “They got three runs… We could have folded… We battled right back and next thing you know it’s a tie game. I’m proud of our girls.”
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