Michaela Decker ripped an RBI double to drive in two runs in the fourth and Gabi Howard took things from there in Christopher’s 3-0 win over Sobrato Thursday.
Howard tossed a four-hit shutout, allowing one walk and striking out three as the Cougars improved to 4-0 in the early going.
“She’s been rock solid all season long,” said coach Julian Santiago of his pitcher. “They had leadoff hitters on in the first three innings, but the defense did their jobs and she hit her spots and got out of some jams.”
Sobrato, meanwhile, suffered its first loss, dropping to 3-1 overall.
Decker’s RBI double in the fourth came two batters after Keely Castro broke up Megan Perron’s no-hitter bid.
“It was a good game. We needed something like this,” said coach John McGowan. “We’ve had a lot of one sided games so far, so we needed to see someone with better pitching so we could get in tune.”
She blooped a 2-2 pitch into shallow center to become just the second batter through three-plus innings to reach safely.
“We have complete confidence in the four-hole,” Santiago said. “She has the green light 3-0, 0-0, whatever. We just expect her to do that and she’s been doing it for four years.”
Pati Soria then reached on a walk setting up Decker to drilled a 2-1 pitch into deep left field allowing both runners to score.
Morgan England followed with a single to put runners on the corners, but Sobrato caught a break on a ground ball to first that led to Decker getting thrown out at the plate.
After Kalena Paredes puts runners on second and third with a sacrifice bunt, Haley Berube drove in the final run with a shot into shallow left.
Take away the one inning and Perron pitched very well. Not including the fourth, she allowed one hit and two walks while striking out four.
She finished the day with six strong innings, giving up three runs on five hits, three walks and four Ks.
Meanwhile, the Sobrato offense had chances through the game, including the top of the first when Ally Nodohara led off with a double up the left field line.
She was stranded after a popup, lineout and ground ball all to second.
Sobrato had the leadoff hitter on in the first three innings, but wasn’t able to score.
The Bulldogs nearly caught a break the next inning when Mariela Mestaz was on second with two outs and Noelle McGowan hit a sharp grounder the second baseman that was mishandled.
Mestaz, already on the run with two outs, made the turn when the ball was misplayed and went for home.
However, the ball came in quickly and she got caught in a run down and eventually tagged out at home.
The Bulldogs had just three base runners after the second inning and just one other advancing to second.
Sobrato next heads to play Notre Dame-Belmont in the Live Oak Circle of Champions starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, weather permitting.
Christopher, meanwhile, will take on Westmont in the Circle of Champions 1 p.m. Saturday if it doesn’t rain.
