The varsity Dons lost a close 7-6 battle to the Piedmont Highlanders on Thursday to drop their season record to 8-4. They were missing star senior center fielder Emme Young as the squad narrowly lost a back and forth, cliff hanger of a game.

The girls came out strong in the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead.  Sophomore leadoff hitter Riley Zirkel reached on an error to start the game before sophomore left fielder Vanessa Choi was walked.  Senior catcher Esa Orman followed and knocked in Riley with a sacrifice fly, before Santana Tamayo drove in Vanessa for the first two runs of the contest.

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Unfortunately, the Dons could not hold the Highlanders down.  Piedmont scored seven runs over the first four innings to take a commanding lead. Acalanes came back with two runs in the 4th and another two in the 7th, but the rally came up just short of tying the contest.

Junior Maya Shoenhair pitched the entire game for the Dons.  She also had two hits.  Esa Orman had two runs batted in, including a towering home run to right field in the last inning that got the late rally started.

Sophomore first baseman Gabby Huerta, senior second baseman Avery Robb and junior right fielder Lauren Foster also had hits that afternoon.

The girls travel to Walnut Creek on Tuesday to play the Northgate Broncos before hosting the Alhambra Bulldogs at home on Thursday.  This is a great opportunity to get back to their winning ways.  Come out and support the crew this week.  Go Dons!