El Modena Stays on Collision Course to Beat No. 6 Mater Dei

El Modena scored twice in the seventh inning Thursday to defeat No. 6 Mater Dei, 3-2, in a nonleague softball game at Mile Square Park.

Vanguard catcher Jennifer Butenschoen tripled home the tying run and scored on a play at the plate, knocking the ball from catcher Michelle Hoffman’s glove.

Mater Dei had taken a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Desiree Gutierrez singled home Riki Paredes.

“To come back against Mater Dei validates the strength these kids have,” said El Modena Coach Steve Harrington, whose team lost, 6-0, to Cypress on Tuesday. “We rebounded and that shows the character of these kids.”

El Modena (5-3) scored in the second when Butenschoen singled home Lonnie Wilson. Mater Dei (8-5) tied it in the bottom of the inning.

Paredes singled and reached third when center fielder Tara Henry misplayed Sharee Zaleski’s single into a two-base error. Gutierrez laid down a squeeze bunt fielded by Butenschoen. Paredes slid hard, knocking the ball from the catcher’s mitt.

Paredes reached on an error in the sixth, stole second and went to third on a fielder’s choice. She scored on Gutierrez’s single to right field.

El Modena used a designated hitter in Butenschoen’s spot in the lineup last season, but she was an offensive force against Mater Dei, going two for three with two RBIs.

“Jennifer came up big,” Harrington said. “She works hard in practice and comes to play, and when she got the opportunity today, she cashed in.”

Gutierrez, making her first start of the season in place of injured Jessica Young, had three hits with two RBIs.

Vanguard pitcher Lindsay Klein (5-3) struck out seven and walked two. Mater Dei’s Christina Clark (2-3), pitching for injured Marissa Becerra, struck out four and walked four.