The Vikings stay hot as they improve to an 8-2 record in conference play with a 4-0 victory over Rio Hondo.
Sophomore starting pitcher Olivia Ramirez remained dominant as she threw a complete game shutout, striking out seven batters while giving up three hits. Ramirez has struck out 22 batters in her last two outings against Rio Hondo.
“Last time it was curves, but they definitely got a hold of that so I threw in some changeups this time,” Ramirez said.
The Vikings would start the scoring off early in the first as freshman third baseman Alejandra Mota scored from second on a throwing error by Rio Hondo.
Ramirez got into trouble in the second inning as a defensive miscue and a walk loaded the bases.
With the bases loaded she got into a 2-0 count, but after a meeting on the mound Ramirez would go on to throw three straight strikes and strike out the batter.
The scoring would continue in the third as Mota would score on a triple hit by sophomore center fielder Alia Marquez
“For the first part of the at bat she was pitching me away. Usually when they pitch me away I try to hit a little dribble in the infield to run it out, but she left one right over the plate and I noticed they (the outfielders) were playing me in so I was trying to hit it over their heads.” said Marquez.
Marquez would then score on an RBI double hit by sophomore right fielder Kirstin Sanchez.
The Vikings would score their fourth and final run of the game on a home run hit by sophomore left fielder Jasmine Delgado.
Prior to her at bat sophomore Gladys Garcia just got under a pitch as she hit a fly out to left field. When asked about if that gave her confidence going into her at bat Delgado responded, “It gave me confidence knowing that we were making contact. I was going up there with the mentality of making contact and hitting the ball. With two outs I just wanted to get on base and it worked. As I was rounding the bases I didn’t even know that it was over. It was honestly a good feeling and in my head I just thought lets keep this going.”
After the Vikings three run third inning Ramirez would go on to give up one hit in the next four innings striking out three batters.
With this win the Vikings move to an 8-2 conference record and a 14-6 record overall and they hope to improve to that record as they play San Bernardino Valley Friday March 24th.