Lady Sharks Softball Split Home Opener Against Hillsborough
By: Alejandro Aguirre- Freelance Writer
The Miami Dade College Lady Sharks Softball team was finally able to hit the field on their home turf after playing the opening weeks of the season on the road. They took on Hillsborough Community College for a Saturday double-header. MDC was going into Saturday's games on a five game losing streak and a 3-7 overall record. The last time these two teams squared off, the Lady Sharks took home the win at Clearwater 7-4.
Coach Gina De Aguero went with Vicky Navarro to start game one and she played a huge role on the mound and with the bat. Navrro went the distance to pitch a complete game while giving up only five hits and one run that was unearned. She also contributed at the plate going 2 for 4 with two runs batted in.
"I think she really set that up. We've been working really hard at practice for her to be hitting her spots so she's turned it around. Her work ethic is amazing so she's been able to push through it and up her game,"said Coach De Aguero after the game. "In the batter's box, she was able to stay controlled too and came up with some nice clutch hits and was able to help herself out with some runs on the mound "
MDC was able to get back in the win column thanks to Navarro's brilliant effort and a balanced lineup on offense. The Lady Sharks had 13 hits with five players collecting more than one hit. MDC did all of their damage on offense early in the game scoring three runs in the second inning, and two runs in the third and fourth. That was more than plenty of offense for Navarro to take care of the rest and guide the team to a 7-1 victory.
"Well we were able to score some runs and actually just continued to score. A lot of our losses have come where we have been able to score some runs but we haven't been able to shut the door," said Coach De Aguero about the team's all around performance. "Our defense was a little bit sharper in that first game and our energy was really good. I think hitting is contagious so if you're sitting there and you're rolling with it then the team tends to pick up off of that."
In game two, Gina Gallegos was named the starter for MDC. Gallegos struggled a bit with her command out of the gate and Hillsborough took advantage of the runners on base to score three runs in the first inning. The Lady Sharks responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning showing no signs of their bats cooling off.
Gallegos was getting the support she needed on offense, but not on defense. MDC had four errors in game two. This led to Gallegos giving up six runs with only one of those runs actually being earned. She battled for four innings through Hillsborough's lineup until Coach De Aguero brought in Ashlyn Blanchard to relieve in the fifth inning. Blanchard was able to keep MDC in the game going the last three innings and giving up only one run.
"In the second game we fell a little bit flat, our energy was a little bit low, and we had a couple errors that came back to hurt us," said Coach De Aguero.
After the two runs the Lady Sharks scored in the first, they chipped at the Hillsborough lead with a run in the third and fifth inning. The Lady Sharks were down 7-4 going into their last at-bats in the bottom of the seventh. MDC was able to get one run across and get the tying run on base but their comeback fell short and dropped game two 7-5.
The Lady Sharks continue their homestand and will be back in action on Tuesday, February 15 to take on St. Thomas University for another double header.