The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.
The Lady Bulldogs are now one win away from wrapping up the Coast Conference North softball championship outright following a dramatic 9-4 victory Thursday at West Valley College.
Michelle Hara
College of San Mateo (11-2 Coast North, 31-4 overall) continues to pace all Northern California squads with a .368 team batting average, and swung like it in its final at-bat with first place on the line. The Bulldogs trailed 4-3 going into the seventh, but rallied with two outs for six runs, with a go-ahead RBI single from Michelle Hara, followed by back-to-back two-run singles from Ariana Montiel and Emma Kinder.
With the win, the first-place Bulldogs takes a one-game lead over West Valley with one conference game to play, assuring them of no less than a shared Coast North championship. CSM can clinch the title outright next Tuesday at Ohlone in the regular-season finale in Fremont.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the seventh by virtue of three straight walks to Ari Williams, Vanessa Lang and Megan Barstad. The next two batters recorded infield fly outs, however, leaving it up to Nohemi Livingston. With two outs and the bases loaded, Livingston drew an RBI walk to tie it. Hara followed with her only hit of the afternoon to knock home Barstad with the go-ahead run.
Ariana Montiel
Williams reached five times in the game, going 1 for 1 with four walks. Livingston was a perfect 3 for 3 with a walk.
CSM led most of the way, taking a 3-0 advantage into the sixth. Barstad doubled home a run in the firth, Montiel drove home a run in the second, and Izzy Cowne scored on an error in the fourth. But West Valley sent 10 batters to the plate in the sixth, chasing CSM starting pitcher Kennedie Magorian, who surrendered four runs on seven hits through 5 2/3 innings.
The Lady Vikings (10-3, 28-7) tied it on a steal of home by Gabriella Diotalevi. Andrea DeJesus followed with a go-ahead single to drive home Karina Repetto.
CSM reliever Siona Halwani earned the win, working 1 1/3 scoreless innings. She allowed two walks but no hits, and struck out two in the seventh to end it.
