ROUNDUP : Gutjahr’s Triple in the 12th Helps No. 7 Kennedy Beat No. 8 El Dorado

After combining for 10 runs through seven innings, two of Orange County’s hottest softball teams went cold for the next four.

But Erryn Gutjahr’s two-run triple in the top of the 12th inning helped end Kennedy’s 7-5 Empire League victory over El Dorado on Thursday.

With the victory, the seventh-ranked Fighting Irish (12-7, 4-0 in league) moved alone into first place; eighth-ranked El Dorado (12-7, 3-1) dropped into second. Kennedy has won 10 of its last 11; El Dorado has won seven of nine.

Gutjahr, who was batting .265 with five runs batted in, drove in four runs.

The winning rally off Kelli Tom (10-5) came with two outs; Lisa Pitt singled and stole second, and Adrianna Wilson walked. Then Gutjahr sent a fly ball into the right-center field alley.

After Stacy Shaner’s leadoff double in the bottom of the 12th, winning pitcher Traci Hensel (4-2) got a ground out and two strikeouts to end the game.