COD (6-12; 2-5) took an early 9-0 lead by the end of the second inning and never looked back as they knocked off the San Diego City Knights (7-16; 2-5), 11-7. 

Desert got things rolling in the bottom of the first when sophomore short stop and lead off hitter Jada Toland (Indio Shadow Hills) clobbered a hot shot to the pitcher and reached base. Freshman right handed starting pitcher Tatiana Martinez (Thermal Coachella Valley) walked then both Toland and Martinez stole second and third base. Freshman center fielder Vanessa Madera (Thermal Coachella Valley) reached on a fielder's choice and Martinez scored when Madera got caught in a run down, giving the Roadrunners an early 1-0 lead.

The Roadrunners would tack on eight huge runs in the bottom of the second as freshman catcher Mya Martinez (Indio Shadow Hills) led off the inning with a walk advancing to second on a one out wild pitch. Freshman second baseman Celeste Padilla (Blythe Palo Verde) then slammed a triple to left field, scoring Mya Martinez and after Padilla slid into third base leapt to her feet and clapped her hands and high fived the Desert third base coach. Freshman left fielder Kaitlin Manning (Palm Desert Xavier Prep) then punched a two out single scoring Padilla. Within a few batters the bases were loaded and sophomore third baseman Rebecca Alford (Thermal Coachella Valley) scored two runs on an infield single back to the pitcher, because with two outs all runners on base were running, making the score 5-0.

Madera, the ninth Desert batter in the inning, would walk to load the bases again and that chased the Knights starter. Mya Martinez dug in at home plate for her second at bat in the second inning and crushed a double to center field, clearing the bases and giving the Roadrunners an 8-0 lead. Then sophomore first baseman Saki Hirata (Tokushima (Japan) Joto) doubled, giving Desert back-to-back doubles, scoring Mya Martinez and giving the Roadrunners a 9-0 lead.

San Diego City would score three runs in the top of the third and another run in the top of the fourth to make the score 9-4. Desert would build upon their lead with a couple of runs in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 11-4. Madera would lead off the inning with a single to left and score on a Mya Martinez single to center. A single which turned into a scoring play when the Knights tried to gun down Madera at home plate, but the throw was cut off to try and get Mya Martinez at second and the second baseman missed the short stop and chucked the softball back into center field. Hirata grabbed an opposite field hit, as she singled to right field, moving Mya Martinez to third base. Mya Martinez would score when Padilla hit into a double play fly out.

The next match for College of the Desert Softball will be on March 23rd at 1p, on the road as they continue Pacific Coast Athletic Conference play at the Southwestern Jaguars of Chula Vista. Hope to see you there!

Photo by Michael Leone Photography (f8leone@yahoo.com)
Information, Photos & Story provided by COD Sports Information.