Live Oak softball head coach Barry McDonnell said it
’s never easy to win at Gilroy. Even though the Mustangs have
struggled in TCAL this season, that philosophy still rang true
Monday when Live Oak dropped just its second league game of the
season, a 1–0 decision at Gilroy High. The loss hurt Live Oak’s
chances at a league title, pending the ou
tcome of yesterday’s matchup between third-place Hollister-San
Benito and first-place Notre Dame.
Live Oak softball head coach Barry McDonnell said it’s never easy to win at Gilroy. Even though the Mustangs have struggled in TCAL this season, that philosophy still rang true Monday when Live Oak dropped just its second league game of the season, a 1–0 decision at Gilroy High.
The loss hurt Live Oak’s chances at a league title, pending the outcome of yesterday’s matchup between third-place Hollister-San Benito and first-place Notre Dame.
Second-place LO still has to play both the Haybalers on Wednesday and the Spirits in a rescheduled game on Friday, and could end up as high as first place or as low as third in the league standings.
The Acorns (6–2 in TCAL, 19–6 overall) had its best scoring opportunities in the second and seventh innings. In the top of the second, Kelly McDonald (single) and Sabrina LaCorte (fielder’s choice bunt) advanced to third and second on a past ball. But Gilroy pitcher Sarah Villar worked the ‘Stangs out of the jam by striking out Amanda Rosevear and getting Danielle Austin to pop–out to second.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth, when Gilroy’s Patty Olvera smacked a first–pitch rise ball from Acorn ace pitcher Juliette Bowers (17–6) to left field for a double, which drove in Dana Schoeneman (single) from third and gave the ‘Stangs the 1–0 lead.
In the top of the seventh, the Acorns looked like they might put a run across after Live Oak first baseman Brittney Ondich singled and McDonald milked a walk out of Villar to put runners on first and second. But then LaCorte grounded to Gilroy shortstop Kayla Aldridge, who turned a double play to second baseman Yolanda Esquivel and first baseman Erin Magill.
With two outs and a runner on third, the Acorns still had a chance. But Rosevear popped up a foul ball to ‘Stangs third baseman Amanda Tellez (2–for–3, double, single) which ended the game.
