COD (7-4; 2-0) grabbed another key victory over a Conference opponent, defeating the Grossmont Griffins (1-7; 0-2) for the first time since 2014, 5-1.

The Griffins would get onto the board early, as they plated a run in the top of the first, but Desert would respond with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-0 lead.

Freshman second baseman Jacqueline Bolha (Yucca Valley H.S.) led off the bottom of the second getting nailed in the ankle by a wild pitch, then stole second base and advanced to third base on an error by the Grossmont third baseman. Bolha said with a laugh after the game, "I was at third base, and I was like, 'dang, my ankle hurts.'"

Bolha would eventually come home on a single to center by freshman right fielder Giselle Maldonado (Rancho Mirage H.S.) tying the game at 1-1. Bolha would comment later, "I think we started out super slow, the team needed a jump and I just happened to be the first one up to bat (in the second inning), so I thought I'd start them off early." Later in the inning, Maldonado would scamper home on a single to left field by sophomore third baseman Areli Moreno (Indio H.S.), giving the Roadrunners the lead, 2-1.

Desert would add on a run in the top of the third as freshman right handed starting pitcher Lauren Robinson (La Quinta H.S.) clobbered a leadoff home run over the left field fence to give the Roadrunners a 3-1 lead.

Desert would add two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, as a two out double to left by freshman catcher Natalie Avila (Rancho Mirage H.S.) scored sophomore short stop and leadoff hitter, Briana Alcorn (Indio H.S.) to give the Roadrunners a 4-1 lead.

Later in the inning, Bolha pushed a single to center, scoring freshman pinch runner Leilani Silva (Salton City West Shores) to give the Roadrunners a 5-1 lead.

Robinson grabbed her third win of the year in the circle, allowing four hits, a run, which was earned, walking one and striking out seven in a complete game effort.

With the win, Desert is undefeated in Conference play, but it's early, a sentiment shared by Bolha at the end of the game, "It's pretty cool (to be undefeated in Conference), but I think the team still needs a lot more work if we want to keep that going, because we are going to keep facing harder and harder teams, we're getting (games) off easy right now."

The next game for College of the Desert Softball will be in Palm Desert on March 4th at 1p & 3p, where they will host a non-Conference doubleheader against the Moorpark Raiders.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

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