el Don NewsBy C. Harold Pierce
Sophomore Heather Robertson crushed the ball past the right field fence for a three-RBI walk-off home run Wednesday, ending the Dons losing streak with an 8-0 mercy victory against visiting Orange Coast College.
Robertson pinch hit for sophomore shortstop Chantal Oelrich in the fifth inning.
“I knew that we could mercy the team. We had two runners on and I knew that my team needed that. That third pitch was on the outside, and I like the outside pitch, so I just swung at it and knew as soon as I hit it that I was over. I felt it,” Robertson said.
Starting pitcher Kirstin Gutierrez threw five innings of three hit ball.
Freshman outfielder Emily Whitecavage took advantage of an OCC throwing error and tripled in the first at bat. Sophomore Alyssa Yglesias drove her in with a grounder to center field.
“We didn’t expect to win here against the No. 1 team in the state. We’re just focused on building a program right now,” OCC Assistant Coach Kevin Holguin said.
The Dons are ranked third in the Orange Empire Conference and second in the state, according to California Community College Athletic Association polls.
The Dons own a 16-4 overall record and 5-3 in conference play. A 2-0 loss against Fullerton College March 5 at home marked the start of a three game skid. Santiago Canyon College shut them out 4-0 two days later and they lost a non-conference game to Palomar College, 5-4 March 11.
“Recruiting all 19 of these kids was a good choice,” Dons Co-Head Coach Jessica Rapoza said.
The Dons play Friday at home against Cypress College at 2 p.m.
