COD Softball sweeps doubleheader over Vikings, 7-4 & 7-5

COD (9-19) hosted a non-Conference doubleheader and fought back from an early four run hole to win game one, then held onto the lead in game two, sweeping the Barstow Vikings (10-22), 7-4 and 7-5.

Freshman right handed starting pitcher Tatiana Martinez (Thermal Coachella Valley) tossed back-to-back complete games in a remarkable effort to get both wins and freshman outfielder Kaitlin Manning (Palm Desert Xavier Prep) went a combined 4 for 6 with two runs scored, batting out of the nine hole, in the win.

In game one, Barstow jumped out to a four run lead in the top of the first, helped by a three run home run to left by their catcher. That would be it for the Vikings as Martinez, with help from her battery-mate, freshman catcher Mya Martinez (Indio Shadow Hills), would shut down Barstow, working in and out of jams all day, but not allowing another run to score.

The Roadrunners would respond by tying the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the third. Desert would load the bases with no one out and then just start bringing runs across home plate as freshman first baseman Monique Zaragoza (Indio H.S.) was the first to score on a fielder's choice error by the Vikings third baseman. Manning was the next to head home on another fielder's choice, but this time the Barstow catcher bobbled the ball, allowing the run to score. Tatiana Martinez would score on a ground out to short and then freshman left fielder Valerie Rojo (Indio H.S.) scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Mya Martinez to tie the game at 4-4.

Desert would take the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs. Tatiana Martinez scored on a single to center by freshman center fielder Vanessa Madera (Thermal Coachella Valley) and Rojo would score on a sacrifice fly to right field by sophomore short stop Jada Toland (Indio Shadow Hills). Madera would score on a single to left by sophomore third baseman Rebecca Alford (Thermal Coachella Valley). 

In game two, Desert took an early two run lead in the bottom of the first when Toland and Madera scored on a Barstow error, when Mya Martinez crushed a shot at the Vikings third baseman and she booted the ball into left-center field, giving the Roadrunners a 2-0 lead.

The Vikings would tie the game at 2-2, in the top of the second and take a brief lead in the top of the third inning, but Desert would tie the game with a run of their own in the bottom of the third. Madera scored from third base on a bloop single to right field that tapped inside of the chalk line by sophomore first baseman Saki Hirata (Tokushima (Japan) Joto), tying the game at 3-3.

Desert would take the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth, as Manning score on a wild pitch and Tatiana Martinez would score on a bases loaded walk. Freshman pinch runner Celeste Padilla (Blythe Palo Verde) scored later in the inning on a fielder's choice, to give the Roadrunners a 6-3 lead.

The Vikings would make the game interesting in the top of the sixth when they would plate two runs to get to within a run, 6-5, but Tatiana Martinez would slam the door shut in the circle as Desert would score one more time in the bottom of the sixth.

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