The Acalanes Softball Varsity team won their third game in a row as Esa Orman drove in four runs on three hits to lead the Dons past Las Lomas Knights 7-5 on Thursday. Despite falling down by five runs in the second inning, the Knights tried to fight back and closed the gap, but the Dons held on for a big win to continue their 3 game winning streak.
The Knights got on the board in the first after their power hitting third baseman hit a solo home run to right field. However the Dons captured the lead in the bottom of the second after Orman singled to drive in Emme Young, who singled to lead off the inning. Vannesa Choi then walked and advanced to third on Orman’s single. Gabby Huerta then put down a sacrifice bunt, with Choi flying past the catcher to score the second run of the inning to put the Dons up 2-1 after the first inning.
Lana Cerejo got the start for the Dons and got a quick 1,2,3 inning in the top of the second. Cerejo allowed three hits and three runs (two earned) over 4 innings, striking out four and walking one to get the win for the Dons.
Offensively the Dons got things going in the bottom of the second inning. After Lauren Foster reached first on a hard ground ball to third, Young tripled on a fly ball to left to score Foster. Choi then walked again for the second time to bring up Orman, who hit a towering fly ball to left that cleared the fence by about 15 feet to put the Dons up 6-1.
The Knights chipped away at the lead getting one run in the third and one run in the fourth making it 6-3 heading into the 5th inning. Maya Shoenhair came in relief to pitch starting in the fifth inning and the Dons had a quick 1,2,3 inning on a ground ball the 3B Santana Tamayo, who threw to 1B Ella Greenfield, who made a nice play to come off the bag and tag the runner. Then SS Riley Zirkel fielded a ground ball for the second out, and Tamayo made a great play on a bunt for the last out of the inning.
In the bottom half of the 5th, the Dons tacked on an insurance run that would later prove important. With two outs, Young walked and stole second base. Then Choi singled down the left field line to score Young as the Dons took a commanding 7-3 lead.
Things got interesting in the top of the seventh as the Knights loaded the bases with nobody out and had the go ahead run at the plate. Then Foster made a great running catch in right field and threw out the runner at first for a double play. The Dons thought the game was over as the runner at third appeared not to tag up on the play, however the run was allowed to score to make it 7-5 with 2 outs. An easy ground ball to Greenfield at first base finished off the game as she calmly tagged first for the final out and Dons walked away with a big win.
Orman ended the day 3 for 3 with 4 RBIs and a walk, while Young had 2 hits in three at bats. The Dons had a strong eye at the plate, amassing nine walks for the game as Huerta, Choi and Greenfield each had two bases on balls to lead the Dons.
There are 2 games this week before spring break, Monday away at Mt. Diablo and Thursday at home vs. College Park. Come out for a fun day of softball. Both games start at 4:30.