COD (16-7; 4-1) built a sizable lead early, then the visitors started to chip away at that lead, grabbing two in the 5th and three in the 6th, as round one of the "Battle of the IEAC" goes to the Barstow Vikings (12-3; 5-0), 5-3.

Desert would get onto the scoreboard first, scoring a run in the bottom of the second as freshman second baseman Dakota Hansen (Myrtle Beach, SC) crossed home plate on a fly out to right by freshman designated player Alejandra Ramirez (Rancho Mirage H.S.). Strangely, the Vikings right fielder just held the ball after catching the fly out, as Hansen kept running and by the time the ball got back into the infield, Hansen had scored from second base, giving the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead.

Desert would score two more runs in the bottom of the third, on a bases loaded double to left by sophomore catcher Natalie Avila (Rancho Mirage H.S.) giving the home side a 3-0 lead.

Barstow would score twice in the top of the fifth, when they hit a triple with a runner on and a strike out-passed ball brought in the next run, getting the Vikings to within one, 3-2.

Then things went truly sideways when Barstow scored three runs in the sixth, the first run scoring on a single which turned into multiple throwing errors, and when the dust settled, the Vikings had tied the score at 3-3.  Barstow would score two more runs, giving the visitors a 5-3 advantage.

Sophomore right handed starting pitcher Lauren Robinson (La Quinta H.S.) tossed a spectacular game, striking out nine, her second best effort of 2020, Robinson had at least one strikeout in every inning except the sixth.

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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).