Giants softball splits season-opening doubleheader at Modesto
By Nick Giannandrea
COS ATHLETICS
Emily Juarez made an instant impact during her debut with the College of the Sequoias softball team.
Juarez, the career hits leader at Hanford High, knocked in the winning run to cap a four-hit performance as the Giants opened their season with a 5-4, eight-innings win in the first game of a season-opening, nonconference doubleheader at Modesto on April 10.
Juarez, who transferred to Sequoias after playing at Cuesta College during last year's coronavirus pandemic-shortened season, singled up the middle to score Mariah Guerrero (Redwood). Guerrero opened the inning with a single to left, then she advanced to second on a ground out by Yennifer Gaitan (Mission Oak) and to third on a ground out by Olivia Aguigam (El Diamante).
Aguigam worked around a one-out single in the bottom of the eighth to finish off the Pirates.
The Giants opened a 2-0 lead in the top of the third as Juarez singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch, and Audra Pratt (Golden West) singled home Monica Meza (Caruthers), who had reached on a fielder's choice.
Sequoias built a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh on a run-scoring single by Pratt and an RBI groundout by Maddison Servadio (Mission Oak), but Modesto tied the score in the bottom of the eighth when Trinity Ortiz' run-scoring triple was played for an error, allowing her to score.
Aguigam went the distance, allowing one earned run on nine hits and a walk while striking out 14.
In the second game, Sequoias couldn't overcome Modesto's seven-run second inning during a 9-6 loss.
Juarez also got the Giants started in the second game by hitting a leadoff single, stealing second and advancing to third on Meza's bunt single. Juarez scored when a ball off the bat of Servadio was played for an error, and Meza scored on a passed ball.
But Modesto responded with one in the bottom of the first, and pushed its lead to 8-2 after a second-inning rally highlighted by Alyssa Donaldson's two-run single.
Sequoias made it 8-3 in the fifth when Emily Ibarra (Redwood) tripled and scored on an error.
The Giants scored three runs in the top of the seventh, getting an RBI double from Pratt, and run-scoring singles from Alyssa Grijalva (Selma) and Aguigam, but their rally ended on a two-out, bases-loaded groundout.
Aguigam allowed one earned run in 4 1/3 innings of relief while striking out three.
Sequoias will open Central Valley Conference play April 20 with a doubleheader at Merced (0-0). Game times are scheduled for 1 and 3 p.m.
The Giants home debut is set for April 22 with a doubleheader against Fresno City (0-2) at 1 and 3 p.m. Attendance is limited to members of a player's household only. General admission will not be allowed because of Covid-19 safety precautions.
