Singley Triggers Irvine’s Victory Over Laguna Hills

In her first two at-bats Friday, Irvine’s Kendra Singley had hits but wound up stranded at third base.

The next time Singley got ahold of one, however, she made sure she would score, breaking a scoreless tie with a home run.

The blast triggered a five-run sixth inning for visiting Irvine that helped put away No. 7 Laguna Hills, 6-2, n a Sea View League softball game.

Singley, a freshman, dismantled the Hawks, adding a triple and finishing four for four with two stolen bases. She is six for eight this year against Laguna Hills and has reached base seven times.

“She kills us,” Laguna Hills Coach Cary Crouch said. “We’re still searching for what we need to do to get her out.”

Irvine (11-4, 2-1) and Laguna Hills (15-8, 2-2) entered Friday’s game having each lost recently to league rival Aliso Niguel. In both games against the Wolverines, the teams were hurt by taking too long to score. That continued Friday, until Singley’s shot.

“I think when it got to be the fifth or sixth inning we didn’t want time to creep up to us like in the loss to Aliso Niguel,” Irvine Coach Lisa Baker said. “Waiting until the sixth inning isn’t going to do it for us every time.”

Hawk starter Brittany Fait (12-7) had retired 15 of 17 until Singley put the Vaqueros on the board. Kari Singley, Jessyca Thompson, Erika Peterson and Kym Bixler followed with consecutive singles and all came around to score after a throwing error and a single by Heather Walker.

The Hawks got within 5-2 in the bottom of the inning on a two-run triple by Katie Schorling, but it wasn’t enough to jolt Singley, Irvine’s pitcher, who gave up five hits and improved to 11-3.

Katie Oliver had two hits for the Hawks.