Mesa, Ariz. – After taking three of four games from Benedictine-Mesa this past weekend, the Golden Eagles have secured the number two or number three seed in the upcoming Cal Pac playoffs. Regardless of the seeding, the team already knows that they will face the University of Antelope Valley in their first contest, which will be held on May 3, at Simpson University. The wins push the team's record to 12-8 in Cal Pac play and 20-23-1 overall.
Friday, April 20
La Sierra – 2, Benedictine – 0
The opening game was a pitcher's duel, won by Sarai Camacho who pitched a complete game, five hit shutout. The Golden Eagles were held to just six hits but were able to push two runs across the plate in the third inning and hold on for the victory. Berlyn Benavides and Aimee Rodriguez led the way offensively with each collecting two hits and accounting for four of the team's six hits. Rodriguez finished with both runs batted in, the result of a two-run homerun which were the only runs scored in the game.
La Sierra – 3, Benedictine – 2
The second game proved to be another close one, with La Sierra's Kirsten Hernandez holding the Red Hawks to just five hits for the second straight game. Hernandez pitched a complete game, giving up two unearned runs on the five hits. Three Golden Eagles players (B. Benavides, Hunter Alvarez, and Sierra Singer) accounted for six of the team's seven hits. Alvarez accounted for all three runs by virtue of two homeruns, one solo shot and a two-run homerun that proved to be the game winner.
Sunday, April 22
La Sierra – 5, Benedictine – 1
Camacho picked up her second win of the weekend, after giving up just one run through 4 2/3 innings. Benavides also collected four hits and two runs scored, after finishing with a 4-for-4 game. She also finished with two stolen bases in the victory. Alvarez also finished perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI's. Kaylee Quezada also added two RBI's in the victory with a two-run homerun.
La Sierra – 4, Benedictine – 8
The Golden Eagles dropped their only contest this weekend in the finale of the 4-game series. After falling behind 5-1, after four innings of play, the Golden Eagles scored three runs in the top half of the fifth inning, cutting the lead to 5-4. But the Red Hawks answered right back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning, securing their lone victory in the series. Vanessa Froussine had two of the team's six hits to lead La Sierra.
With the regular season now concluded, the team will now look to prepare for the University of Antelope Valley. The Pioneers have yet to complete their regular season, as they are scheduled to play at Simpson University this coming weekend. Pending the outcome of that series, the Golden Eagles will finish as the number two seed or at worst behind the Pioneers as the number three seed. In either scenario, the two teams are scheduled to play the second game of the Cal Pac Championship double-elimination tournament, on Thursday, May 3, at 12:30pm, in Redding, California. The host of the tournament, Simpson University, has already clinched the top seed and will face Marymount University, prior to the Golden Eagles game versus the Pioneers.
