SAN BERNARDINO — The big inning.
That’s what the Linfield Christian softball team was able to avoid for four innings Tuesday afternoon against 16-time Ambassador League champion Aquinas on a cold and windy afternoon.
However, in the bottom half of the fifth inning, Aquinas scored four runs and turned a one-run game into a rout, prevailing 8-2 to take the first game of a three-game season series.
The second game is Thursday afternoon in Temecula.
In the circle were a pair of underclassmen: sophomore Katie Coldiron for Aquinas and freshman Presley Sloniker and Linfield Christian. And for four innings, the two pitchers combined to allow just four runs while stranding 11 runners on base.
“There’s a different chemistry and confidence that we have with Katie in the circle, but I need to give credit to our other pitchers who held things down until she became eligible (after transferring from Yucaipa High School),” Falcons coach Greg Galindo said. “We haven’t hit the ball particularly well as of yet, but I think today was a step in the right direction on that side of the ball.”
After squandering an early scoring opportunity, Linfield Christian (12-2 overall, 3-1 in league) put together a two-out rally in the third inning with three straight singles, including an RBI hit for Julia Preston. Coldiron kept the damage to a run by inducing a groundout by Autumn Cabrera.
Aquinas (8-7, 2-1) got that run back in its half of the third, as Harlynn Parks singled with one out and Zoey Galindo scored on an error. Savanna Estrada hit a long single that one hopped the wall in left-center field, but Sloniker escaped further damage with a pop out and flyout.
Coldiron aided her own cause with a two-run homer to deep center field in the bottom of the fourth to give Aquinas the lead. Coldiron went the distance, scattered nine hits, walked three and struck out two batters. She also went 2 for 3 at the place, while Kat Garcia was 3 for 4 with three doubles.
“It was definitely hard to sit for that first part of the season,” Coldiron said. “But I was excited to get to throw against Norco as my debut, and I’m happy to be at a program with the history and expectations Aquinas has.”
Sloniker has been battling a hip injury and lasted only four innings Tuesday. Linfield Christian coach Paul Perez said Sloniker’s availability for Thursday’s game is uncertain.
Celeste Smith came on in relief for the Lions and allowed three hits in her first four batters as Aquinas pushed the lead to 5-2. The Falcons tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning.
“Presley showed a lot of heart out there and gave us a chance today, but we weren’t clean behind her and Celeste,” Perez said. “I thought we hit the ball well today, which gives me confidence going into Thursday though. They’re a hard working group of great girls and I feel like we’ve got the pieces to do some really good things this year.”
The Lions had runners on first and third with one out in the sixth inning after a double by Sophia Rezkalah, but Coldiron got a lineout, flyout and three straight groundouts to finish the game.
Chloe Hill was 2 for 4 with a double to lead Linfield Christian at the plate.
Originally Published:
