(San Marino) – For the first time in four years, it wasn’t Michelle Floyd versus Lauren from La Canada to determine Rio Hondo supremacy on Thursday. San Marino used timely hitting to get the upper-hand on the Spartans, 10-2.
Floyd rebounded nicely from a less than stellar outing on Tuesday in her loss to Monrovia to pitch seven strong innings to notch her tenth win in 12-outings for 2013. The win also put the Titans back into a jumbled Rio Hondo League title race where they trail both La Canada and Temple City by one game.
After spotting the Spartans (7-2, 3-1) a run in the first inning, San Marino (11-2, 2-2) made sure they didn’t keep the game close in their bottom half as they sent nine batters to the plate in their four-run inning.
La Canada’s strategy against the lead-off hitting Floyd hurt them early after she drew one of her five walks in the game. Allison Lee, Caitlyn Callahan, Raquel Edmonds, Larissa Phillips (3-for-4 with 3 RBI’s) and Erin Stenwall all reached safely to begin the inning before Emily Stenwall lined to Kelsey Drange for the first out. Prior to the out, Edmonds singled in both Floyd and Lee to give the Titans a lead that never was relinquished. With runners on first and third, Phillips hit a shot in the left-field gap to double in both Callahan and Edmonds.
San Marino managed two more insurance runs in the second inning as Floyd and Callahan each scored for the second time in as many innings to open up a 6-1 lead.
The Spartans caused the Titans fans to sweat in the fourth inning as Aubri Thompson doubled with one out. Brenna Gay singled to move Thompson to third. Thompson scored on Jessica Ogden’s second single of the game to cut the Titan lead to four. Floyd gathered her composure after Ogden’s hit to strike out Olivia Lam and forced Selina Mohr to fly-out to Edmonds.
The remainder of the game went as planned for Floyd as she cruised through the remainder of the game only allowing Kara Thompson to reach second before the final out was recorded.
Two Spartans pitchers combined for 12 walks (five were recorded on Floyd) and allowed 10 hits. By comparison, Floyd struck out 10 and walked three.
Both teams take the Spring Break off before beginning RHL play In April. La Canada will be participating in the WoodbridgeTournament on April 6, while San Marino will face South Pasadena on April 10.
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