After losing five straight games, the Hornets rebounded with a vengeance, taking the opening series game against the Rustlers 10-1 on Tuesday. This past weekend, Fullerton lost a tight one to Palomar 2-1, but their offense and defense were clicking on all cylinders against Golden West.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Fullerton offense put up a crooked number. Leading 2-1, designated player Anela Quinones stepped into the batter’s box, with two runners on and two outs. On a 1-1 count, Quinones sat on a screwball and ripped it into left field for a 2-run RBI double that hit off the wall. This drove in Alexandria Valdez and Alana Eisel.
“Honestly, from my first at bat, I knew they were gonna try to go inside on me again. I was just kind of off the blind expecting the inside pitch, because that’s what they tend to do to us. I was just waiting for that inside slow pitch, and was ready to drive it,” said Quinones.
Co-Head Coach Crystal Aguirre paced herself along the first baseline, knowing that four runs would not be enough. After what happened last week, when they blew a six-run lead on Thursday against Saddleback.
Hornets catcher Faith Krueger came to the plate, with Fullerton leading 5-1, and gave them insurance runs. There were runners on second and third at the time. Krueger got ahead in the count at 3-1. She spoiled two pitches during her at-bat to stay alive.
Fullerton’s Juliana Ursino, in the on-deck circle, was telling her front shoulder, letting Krueger know to get her hands out to the ball quicker. On the next pitch, Krueger ripped a 2-run RBI single to right-center field, scoring Toafa Pua and Lisa Villanueva. The score was now 7-1, with the Hornets and their fanbase cheering loudly in support.
Continuous errors from the Rustlers allowed the Hornets to extend their lead even further. By the time the inning ended, the game was now 10-1 in favor of Fullerton.
“We were getting the runs in, and they were making the hits and making the other team errors,” said pitching coach Patti Russell-Workman.
“We were definitely more aggressive, trying to get them to swing a little bit harder, stay committed, and they stuck to the game plan,” said Aguirre.
The final run of the game was Eisel’s infield RBI single at third base with the bases loaded. Dakoda Hilvers scored on the play.
In the fifth inning, Golden West was looking to extend the game. Fullerton starting pitcher Emma Gamez hit third baseman Vivian Espinoza by a pitch on a screwball to start the inning. Gamez walked two of the next three batters to load the bases. The Rustlers had an opportunity with one out to put up a big number and get themselves back into the game.
Golden West designated player Isabella Gallegos stepped into the batter’s box. Gamez left a fastball out and over the plate that Gallegos was all over. Gallegos smoked it on a line to second base, but Zoey Bautista positioned her perfectly to match the catch. All the Golden West runners were on the move as the ball was hit. Bautista was able to get left fielder Siena Rodriguez over at first base for an inning-ending double play to secure a 10-1 run-rule victory in five innings.
“They worked well together. They were one unit, and that’s what we want in the field. We want them working together as a team,” said Russell-Workman.
The Hornets will travel to Golden West for game two of a three-game series on Thursday. Game time is at 2 p.m.
