Prep Wednesday : SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : 3-A Softball : Irvine Slams Two Home Runs, Beats Saddleback, 3-0

The Saddleback High School softball team had never seen its freshman pitcher, Desi Abrego, give up a home run--until Tuesday. Then Irvine first baseman Cheryl Dunmeyer hit one over center fielder Claudia Rodriguez’s head in the first inning.

So Saddleback’s outfielders moved back.

But not far enough.

In the third, Irvine pitcher Jennifer Brundage sent a towering fly ball over Rodriguez’s head for another home run in the Vaqueros’ 3-0 victory at Saddleback in the second round of the Southern Section 3-A softball playoffs.

The Vaqueros (19-7-1) will play Saugus, a 2-0 winner over Culver City, in the quarterfinals Thursday.

“Jennifer’s home run I think was the critical blow,” Irvine Coach Phil Dunmeyer said. “They had already backed up after the first home run and she still got it past them.”

Irvine’s power at the plate and on the mound was more than Saddleback bargained for.

“We are not used to someone tagging (Abrego) that hard,” Saddleback Coach Yvonne Alonzo said. “I think everybody kind of let down a bit. To see that happen to her . . . the whole team kind of went, ‘Whoa! Somebody can hit this girl.’ ”

Abrego (19-5) struck out three, gave up five hits and a walk, and the Roadrunners committed three errors. Brundage (16-7) pitched a two-hitter, striking out 10.

“She’s a lot better than we expected,” Alonzo said of Brundage. “She has a wicked curveball that was getting the kids inside and her riseball was working for her today.”

Saddleback had runners on base only three times and none advanced beyond second as Brundage got excellent support from her defense, which committed only one error.

Saddleback designated hitter Kim Carstens singled to left in the third with two outs, but Rodriguez flied out. Rodriguez singled to center in the sixth and stole second with two outs. She, too, was left on base when Leann Larriva struck out.

In the seventh, shortstop Nikkanni Andrews reached when Irvine third baseman Sam Lutsch dropped a line drive for the Vaqueros’ only error. But Irvine catcher Lisa Goodwin picked off Andrews at first, and Brundage struck out the next two batters to end the game.

Irvine scored its final run in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and Brooke Carpenter on first on a fielder’s choice, Abrego walked pinch-hitter Jennie Matthews. Carrie Caudill then hit a ground ball to Andrews, whose throw to third was late, loading the bases.

Erica Koch then singled to center, scoring Carpenter.

In other 3-A games:

Montclair 3, El Toro 1--Carrie Fredricks had a two-run single with two outs in the sixth to give Montclair (23-4) a 2-1 lead at El Toro. Winning pitcher Martha Vargas allowed five hits and struck out four. Jennifer Jourdan (5-6) also pitched a five-hitter, striking out seven, but took the loss.

San Clemente 3, West Torrance 2--Tara Rouse had an RBI double with no outs in the fifth for San Clemente (13-12). Rouse (11-7) pitched a four-hitter, striking out 10, for the victory. She also hit a solo home run in the first.