By the fourth inning, Santa Clarita Christian softball was trailing Holy Family of Glendale by nearly 10 runs and needed to spark a comeback.
Despite two pitching changes and a late offensive effort, the Cardinals were unable to get off the ground and fell to the Gaels, 15-6, Friday at the Hart complex.
“It was hard today,” said SCCS coach Ali Aguilar. “We came out flat. We made some mistakes, started off slow in pitching and then it took some time to settle down and by the time we settled down we were in too big of a hole.”
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Holy Family (2-9) scored six runs in the first inning, then SCCS (3-4 overall) scored three of their own in the second to cut the deficit to three.
Kaleigh Moss replaced Hailey Aguilar in the circle in the second inning.
“I just couldn’t get in the zone,” said Hailey Aguilar, who hit two doubles at the plate. “So they pulled me to go to outfield for a little bit and then come back to just get a little bit of rest because I pitch every game, so it’s a little difficult sometimes.”
Holy Family scored four runs in the third inning, then three in the fourth to bring the score to 13-3.
Hailey Aguilar returned to pitch in the fourth and finished the game.
“We took her out and tried to get her refocused,” Ali Aguilar said. “Moss came in for two or three innings and really helped us get our composure back which was great, then we came back with Hailey and she did a lot better.”
Hailey Aguilar struck out two during her second stint in the circle and held the Gaels to only two more runs.
The Cardinals tallied three in the fifth, beginning with an RBI double from Hailey Aguilar, followed by a two-run double by Cassidy Oliver.
“It just felt good coming off my hands, and I felt more confident in my swing and the power I had to push us to get those extra runs in,” Oliver said.
Oliver finished the day 2-for-4 with a double for the Cardinals, who hope to refocus for their Heritage League opener Friday against Guidance Charter at the Hart complex.
“We all need to rest up and get a good practice in and be able to come out strong and united as a team,” Oliver said.
