Dons 5 straight wins behind freshman dynamo's bat

SOFTBALL.
Game date: Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

Freshman first baseman Keila Tenorio’s two-out, RBI single in the second inning foreshadowed the rest of the Dons’ afternoon.

“I saw a hole in right field,” Tenorio said. “The outfielder was playing toward the line. I wanted to hit a line drive.”

Tenorio led the Dons to a 4-0 shutout Tuesday over visiting East Los Angeles College. The Dons have won five consecutive games to open the season, achieving that feat at the expense of the Huskies twice in five days. This is the third season in which the Dons started the season going five games without a loss.

Three times Tenorio came up with two outs. Two of the three at-bats resulted in RBI doubles. She ended the day 3-for-3 from the plate with three RBIs.

Tenorio’s day was almost outdone by teammate sophomore Kaitlyn Hooper.

Hooper pitched six scoreless innings, allowing five hits and hitting one batter. Her only jam came in the sixth, when she allowed three consecutive hits to load the bases with one out.

Head Coach Jessica Rapoza made a trip to the pitcher’s circle.

“She (Rapoza) wanted to slow the game down,” Hooper said. “Slow the game down, ‘cause she knows we can handle it.”

Hooper then induced a 1-2-3 inning-ending double play.

“I had a good defense behind me,” Hooper said. “Throw strikes, let them hit it and let my defense work.”

Freshman Becky Porier closed out Hooper’s win, recording a 1-2-3 seventh inning.

The Dons next play Friday, at home vs. Cerritos College.