La Mirada Gets Past Rosary in 10th

Rosary’s Julie Luna no-hit second-seeded La Mirada for 8 2/3 innings but the Matadores scored in the 10th and edged the Royals, 1-0, in a quarterfinal game of the Southern Section Division II softball playoffs Thursday.

Neither team had gotten its leadoff batter on base since the top of the first, so when Victoria Bridge led off the home half of the 10th with a single to right, it was cause for excitement.

Nicole Larson bunted pinch-runner Francine Aguilar to second, and Aguilar moved to third on a single by Nancy Howell. No. 9 hitter Sharlene Muma followed with a fly to right-center field, which Lesley Fulton dived to catch. She had no play on Aguilar, who crossed home plate with the only run of the game.

Rosary had more chances over the first eight innings, putting multiple runners on base in the first, sixth and seventh innings. But the Matador pitching tandem of Kristi Martin and Jennie Finch extended La Mirada’s scoreless streak to 63 innings.

Martin allowed three hits and struck out nine over the first six innings; Finch (7-0) came on in the seventh and gave up one hit and struck out six. She retired the last 11 Royals she faced; Finch, a sophomore, has not given up a run this season in 47 innings. It was the 13th consecutive victory for La Mirada (23-2-1), which will face Saugus in Tuesday’s semifinals.

Luna did not give up a hit before giving up consecutive singles with two out in the ninth. The DePaul-bound senior struck out six. Erin Connors had two hits for Rosary (22-10).