Prep Softball Roundup : Tustin Tightens Title Race After Beating Saddleback

Saddleback High School stayed close to Tustin for seven innings.

But the Roadrunners committed two errors in the eighth and Tustin escaped with a 2-0 victory in a Sea View League softball game Wednesday at Saddleback.

The victory by Tustin (13-7, 10-2) avenges an earlier loss to Saddleback. Now Tustin can clinch a share of the league title with another victory over Saddleback (21-3, 11-1) Friday.

Saddleback managed only one hit off Shannon Ellis (5-6), who struck out nine and walked three.

. Tustin got eight hits, two of them in the eighth inning, off Desi Abrego.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Laura Teal grounded a single down the left-field line. Left fielder Claudia Rodriguez fumbled the ball and Teal advanced to second on the error.

Jayme Ondracek beat out her second bunt single, with Teal advancing to third.

Abrego intentionally walked Ellis, who came into the game batting .438, to load the bases.

Melissa Mazanet hit a high bouncer to first baseman Blanca Silva, who misjudged the ball, and Teal scored on the error. Allison Potenza grounded out to short, scoring Ondracek.

Kim Carstens led off the Saddleback eighth with a single. Right fielder Denise Thomas fumbled the ball for a two-base error.

Silva grounded to Ellis, who looked Carstens back to third before throwing out Silva. Ellis then struck out Ana Montoya. With lead-off batter Rodriguez at the plate, Ellis threw a wild pitch and Carstens attempted to steal home. But catcher McGuire recovered and flipped it to Ellis, who tagged Carstens to end the game.

“I think our bats were asleep today,” Saddleback Coach Yvonne Alonzo said. “Defensively we did well. Just offensively, we didn’t produce.”

In the South Coast League:

Capistrano Valley 2, Mission Viejo 1--Jennifer Simth (9-11) pitched a one-hitter and struck out seven at Capistrano Valley (10-12, 2-5). Mission Viejo is 4-3 in league.

Irvine 10, Dana Hills 1--Jennifer Brundage (14-6) pitched a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts for visiting Irvine (15-6, 6-1). Brundage has also had three hits, including a three-run home run, and five RBIs.

El Toro 7, San Clemente 4--El Toro scored four runs in the fifth and two in the sixth to win at San Clemente. Winning pitcher Paige Lauby struggled, striking out 8, but walking 11 and allowing six hits. El Toro is 4-3 in league. San Clemente is 3-4 in league and 8-11 overall.