Beyer softball beats Livingston, claims league title for first time in 29 years
One big inning was all it took for the Beyer softball team to seal the biggest win in recent school history.
While Beyer (19-6, 11-1 WAC) has made appearances in the playoffs in the past, the Patriots' last league title was in 1996, according to 13-year head coach Mike Young. Friday, Beyer had the chance to secure at least a share of the Western Athletic Conference title and avenge their only league loss earlier this season against league newcomer Livingston (16-7, 10-2).
In their first matchup, the Patriots scored twice in the second inning and added a run in the sixth. They committed five errors and were on the wrong end of a controversial call, falling 6-3 on April 9.
Friday, however, pitcher Jordyn Lish was at her best and the defense behind her cut their errors from five to just two, both coming in the first inning. The offense came alive in the fifth inning, scoring all of its runs in the bottom half of the frame to win the game 4-2.
The Patriots currently sit atop the WAC standings with an 11-1 record. Though they have two more league games next week, they secured at least a share of the league title, ending the 29-year drought.
'We've had good pitching and hitting has been huge for us this year,' Young said. 'We go one through nine, we really do.'
Lish was dominant in the circle. Two Wolves reached base via errors and one scored on an RBI single in the first inning. For the next five innings, the Utah State-bound senior did not allow a baserunner. In the sixth inning, Livingston hit a two-out single but Lish forced a groundout from the next batter.
The fifth inning is where things shifted in the Patriots' favor.
Lish started with an immaculate inning in the top half, striking out each batter on three pitches each. Wagner signee Mackenzie Hough got the Patriots offense started with a leadoff single then Audrina Urias and Chelsee Toon, an East Tennessee State University signee, were both hit by pitches to load the bases with no outs.
'You get that leadoff runner on and you're coming into the four, five, six (hitters) of your lineup, that's what you want to see,' Young said.
Destiny Pitts singled the next at bat, scoring a pair of runs to give Beyer its first lead of the game, 2-1. Toon, later in the inning, scored on a ground out and Lish singled home a run to give the Patriots a 4-1 lead by the end of the inning.
'In the circle before we broke to go on offense, I was telling them, 'I need you to back me up, you got this. I believe in each and every one of you,'' Lish said of the team's mindset in the fifth inning. 'And the first batter up just changed the game.'
The Wolves scored a run in the top of the seventh inning but could not mount a comeback.
'It felt good to pitch with a lead, knowing we don't have to get every single out. I know if they get one on, it's not a big deal because we're up by a few.'
Lish pitched the full seven innings, allowing just three hits and recording 10 strikeouts.
The Patriots clinched a playoff spot in what will be their first trip to the postseason since members of this year's senior class were freshmen.
'It feels good to know I'll get to do that and keep playing with these girls as long as I can,' Lish said.
Lish says they will enjoy this win, but they know their work is far from over. They have two more WAC contests next week to win if they want to seal an outright league title. Monday, they face longtime rival Ceres, who will enter the game 10-2 in league play, on the road. They host Lathrop Wednesday for senior night.
Pitman 7, Millennium 3
Oakdale 7, Elk Grove 6
Orestimba 10, Berkeley 6
Pitman 24, Pacheco 8
Enochs 6, Ceres 3
Ripon 11, Pacheco 0
St. Joseph 13, Gregori 2
Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks 9, Oakdale 1
Ripon 16, Gustine 0
Enochs 9, Orestimba 1
Ceres 9, Berkeley 3
Big Valley Christian 8, Riverbank 5
Turlock 3, El Capitan 2
Westlake 13, Pitman 1
Maranatha 4, Central Catholic 2
Ripon Christian 10, Sonora 0
Ripon 4, Hilmar 2
Escalon 14, Orestimba 0
Big Valley Christian 5, Riverbank 3
Central Catholic 3, Lompoc 2
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