Starting pitcher sophomore Olivia Ramirez dominated on the rubber pitching a complete game in a nail-biting 3-1 Vikings victory over Chaffey.
Ramirez pitched seven innings striking out seven while allowing one run on five hits.
When asked about what was working on the rubber Ramirez said, “With the wind, it was kind of hard, but we were trying to keep the ball outside and work against the wind. My curveball was working really well and I don’t think I threw one inside, so that was good.”
The scoring for the Vikings started in the fourth inning where they scored two runs.
The scoring would start with an RBI double by designated hitter sophomore Gladys Garcia.
Garcia would then get pinch ran for by freshman outfielder Alynna Gonzalez who would score what ended up being the game-winning run on a single hit by sophomore left fielder Jasmine Delgado.
“Anything on the ground was going to score because I knew Alynna was going to find a way to score, so I had the mindset of just getting it on the ground and making contact,” said Delgado.
Ramirez got into trouble in the fourth and the fifth innings letting two runners reach base in both frames, but she was able to limit the damage to one run in the fourth and none in the fifth.
“I’ve been in that situation before and I knew I could get out of it. I just had to focus and control the controllable. You can’t control the uncontrollable… and my defense got me so I wasn’t worried one bit,” said Ramirez.
The Vikings would add insurance in the fifth as an RBI double by freshman third basemen Alejandra Mota extended the Vikings’ lead to 3-1, which would be the final score.
Last week the Vikings played in rain and in this game was played in brutal winds.
When asked about the team’s ability to overcome the weather and still come out with wins, head coach Megan Martinez said, “We don’t stop practices for any reason. We practiced yesterday in the hail and we came here two hours early today to practice in the wind.”
The Vikings hope to extend their hot streak Thursday against Rio Hondo at 3:00 p.m. in the last game of their three-game home stand.