The softball team lost to the Sequoia Ravens 7-4 on Tuesday afternoon.
Sequoia started the game as their batter walked to first after four balls. After more trouble from the mound, the Ravens were able to get the bases loaded from their third walk, making way for the next batter to hit a double into the outfield. This allowed their runners on second and third to find home, putting the score at 2-0.
Soon after, freshman center fielder Emma Loose caught the ball with her outstretched mit. With one out under her belt, she then threw the ball to third to deny a runner arriving from second.
With that momentum, sophomore third baseman Juliana Pandolfo pounced on the next batter’s hit and threw the ball to first before the batter could reach the base.
M-A began their offense with sophomore batter Gracy Nava starting the count for the Bears. Despite a commendable hit towards center field, Sequoia’s left fielder was able to catch her hit for the first out. However, shortly after Pandolfo managed to get on base with her low hit single towards left field. Not satisfied with this, she tactically took advantage of a stray foul ball to steal second base. Soon after, Sequoia’s pitcher threw far below her catcher’s hands to give Pandolfo the opening to steal third base. Not losing momentum, she set her sights on home and slid to give the Bears their first run.
The next two batters weren’t able to make it to first because of fast throws to the first baseman from the Ravens’ spry center fielder. The inning ended 2-1 with Sequoia leading.
Sequoia was unproductive in the second inning with three straight outs. The Bears got the ball to first base off of the first batter’s hit before she could get there. The next batter’s hit was caught. Sequoia’s third batter was able to get bat to ball contact, but senior first baseman Sara Djafari ran to first before the batter did.
After two outs for the Bears, Loose hit a bunt for a single and senior Faith Schubin stole second shortly after. Unfortunately, she stopped there when Schubin struck out to end the inning.
The third inning started with a single for Sequoia. Junior shortstop Carey Maletis dove in the center of the diamond to catch the first out. Fueled from that confidence, Pandolfo caught a throw from Loose to get Sequoia’s solo runner out. The Ravens’ next batter hit the ball into the sky near first, where Djafari comfortably caught it and ended the top of the inning.
M-A’s batters started off shaky with two straight strikeouts. Pandolfo was once again the first on base for the Bears, hitting a single. Once Maletis stepped up to bat, Pandolfo stole second when the ball slipped through the Sequoia catcher’s glove. Maletis was given a walk to first, but the next batter struck out.
The scoreboard still read 2-1 at the top of the fourth inning. Sequoia’s first batter had a powerful hit towards center field, allowing her to reach first base. Nava barely missed a diving catch from the second batter’s hit near third. Junior catcher Kylie Cox’s reliable catches wavered on one pitch, so both of the Ravens’ pitchers were able to steal a base.
Their next batter hit the ball towards Koo at the pitcher’s mound; she threw it to first for an out, but the runner from third was able to run home. The next batter struck out for the second out, and after several swings a runner was able to walk to first. She stole second moments later, but the next batter had a weak hit towards the center of the diamond that easily got to first before the batter.
M-A started out with an out in the bottom of the fourth inning. Regardless of Koo’s single and steal to second, two other strikeouts cut their inning short.
Nava switched with Koo on the mound at the top of the fifth inning. Despite an early walk for the Ravens, Pandolfo caught a ball for the first out. A slow return from Cox off of a strike lead to the runner stealing second. The Ravens’ next batter hit a double to send the other runner home. After a strikeout and a denial to first base, the top of the inning ended at 4-1.
Pandolfo was yet again one of the first runners on base for the Bears from a hit that got her first but didn’t get Nava from first to second. Once Maletis was up to bat, Pandolfo stole second, but Maletis wasn’t able to get a single out of her first.
Sequoia kicked off the sixth inning with a single. A strikeout, junior Lea Martinez’s catch, and Koo now at first base denying a single, slowed the Ravens’ momentum.
Cox started the bottom of the sixth with a double towards the fences in center field. A strikeout followed, but the Bears were able to chalk up a run from several singles. Loose walked to first, giving her energy for a pickle that was unsuccessful but carried Koo to home. The inning ended 4-3 with the Bears hopeful for a comeback.
The last inning started with a catch from Schubin. The next batter looked like she was going to return to the dugout with two strikes, but she hit a triple. The Bears called a timeout, afterwards the Ravens still hit a double, making the score 5-3. After another single, Nava temporarily stopped their running extravaganza and caught the next hit. Two walks later, the bases were loaded. Luckily, Nava struck out the next batter to end the inning.
Sequoia was able to catch M-A’s pop fly first hit of the bottom of the last inning. Pandolfo and Maletis both walked, and they both stole a base to get on second and third. Going for gold, they both stole another base, allowing Pandolfo to run home. Freshman Olivia Rodgers walked, but followed her teammate’s examples and stole second. Sequoia’s overwhelmed pitcher switched out, but Koo still walked and the bases were loaded yet again. An impressive line drive from the next batter was denied by a catch from Sequoia, ending the game 7-4.
The Bears will take on the Mills Vikings on Friday at 4 p.m.
