Everything fell into place for the new San Diego Christian College women’s softball team, which debuted with a doubleheader sweep on President’s Day.
The Hawks were one out away from defeat to Embry-Riddle University (Ariz.) when an error and a double tied the ballgame in the bottom of the 7th, then the hosts scored again in the 8th during International Tiebreaker play to take a 6-5 decision.
Everything fell into place for the new San Diego Christian College women’s softball team, which debuted with a doubleheader sweep on President’s Day.
The Hawks were one out away from defeat to Embry-Riddle University (Ariz.) when an error and a double tied the ballgame in the bottom of the 7th, then the hosts scored again in the 8th during International Tiebreaker play to take a 6-5 decision.
SDCC (2-0) completed the sweep by posting 12 unanswered runs after quickly trailing in the 1st before taking a 12-5 decision to sweep the Eagles.
“It’s exciting to score the run to win that first game,” said Kat Canciller-Petty, a freshman who captured a CIF championship at Santana High last season. “Now we can go out and win all of our other games, too.”
Known for her speed, Canciller-Petty was inserted as a pinch runner and placed at second base. Three pitched later, second baseman Morgan Wheeler smacked a hot roller up the middle for a base hit to easily register the first game-winning RBI in school history.
“I was trying to bunt, but fouled off the first two itches,” admitted Wheeler. “But I came through and just went with a low pitch and hit it to center field.”
The base hit came off hard-luck loser Keana Nakata, a freshman from Helix High, who picked up the loss despite allowing a pair of unearned runs.
The Eagles were one strike away from a win in the 7h. Suddenly, Hawks first baseman Hannah Romanski reached on an error, stole second base, then tallied the equalizer when Josie Tucker doubled to left.
Tucker gained the pitching victory in Game 1. The nightcap went to Kendra Kuper, another frosh from Santana, who blanked ERU over the final 6 1/3 innings after a pair of errors left the Hawks in an early 5-0 deficit.
Center fielder Morgan McGee fueled the comeback, batting 3-for-3 and was hit by a pitch, scoring all four times and driving in three runs.
In addition, Tucker batted 4-for-4 with two RBI, finishing the day by going 7-for-8 at the plate. Meanwhile, Romanski went 3-for-4 with three RBI.
Cheryl Schaefer, the former Point Loma Nazarene All-American, who later coached the Sea Lions until the school inexplicitly dropped the program three yeas ago, coaches San Diego Christian.
“I was very pleased to win our first doubleheader in program history,” said Schaefer. “This was a day I have been looking forward to. As a team we have been preparing for it, and I was glad they were able to get positive results for all their hard work and commitment. I feel very blessed.”
