Dons walk-off dishes Chargers first OEC loss

image-2-Insert_SoRHPDevonRodriguez — Sophomore pitcher Devon Rodriguez had a wild outing but improved her record to 5-0, as the offense bailed her out.

SOFTBALL: SAC vs. Cypress.
GAME DATE: February-27-2013.

Santa Ana waited 19 games through seven years Wednesday, to topple an invading giant.

Freshman first baseman Sabrina Perez laced a walk-off single that scored sophomore left fielder Becky Poirier from second base as the Dons handed Cypress its first conference loss, 4-3.

“I am glad to be part of the team to end the streak,” Poirier said. “I would have been disappointed if it would have happened next year without me.”

Poirier led off the seventh inning by reaching on an error, and advanced to second base on third baseman Alexandra Perkins’ sacrifice bunt.

Cypress went to the bullpen, as Head Coach Brad Pickler yanked Alyssia Palamino in favor of sophomore Stephanie Luhmann.

“They had seen Alyssia three times,” Pickler said. “I thought it was time to give them a different look.”

After the change, second baseman Kelsey Choat popped up. With two outs and a runner in scoring position, Perez worked the count to three-and-strikes before smoking a one-hopper between the first and second basemen.

“She missed inside on back-to-back pitches, so I knew the next pitch would be on the outer half,” Perez said.

Sophomore Devon Rodriguez picked up her fifth win of the season despite battling control problems. Rodriguez threw seven innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and six walks.

“Early in the game they were taking a lot of pitches and I wasn’t hitting my spots,” Rodriguez said.

All three Chargers runs were scored in the first two innings. In the second inning, Rodriguez walked in two runs.

But the Dons bats wouldn’t stay dead.

Right fielder Marissa Ross led off the inning by taking a pitch to the left shoulder and advanced to second on a ground out. With two outs and runners at first and second, Perkins smashed a single into left field scoring Ross from second.

“I love being put in pressure situations,” Perkins said.

The Dons (11-3 Overall, 2-2 OEC) host Santiago Canyon College (13-3 Overall, 3-2 OEC) Friday at 2 p.m.