Notre Dame holds on after almost blowing a 10-0 lead
Notre Dame had what looked like a comfortable 10-0 lead in the third inning on Thursday against Sierra Canyon, but had to hold on for a 14-12 victory.
“We didn't follow our game plan from the get go,” Sierra Canyon head coach Regina Jorgensen said. “Do we blame it on one player? No, never. We came back and fought, but ultimately our errors dinged us.
“Hitting is the easiest part of our game. We have good pitchers. We didn't relax and played tense, and it showed.”
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After a scoreless first inning, Notre Dame scored five runs in the second inning. Multiple errors in the inning allowed two runs, and Aliyah Garcia and Charley Tapia each drove in runs.
In the third inning, multiple errors and an Alexa Miranda home run quickly ballooned the Knights' lead to 10-0.
The Trailblazers needed a comeback and quickly put any thoughts of a mercy rule to rest.
Sparked by home runs by Peyton Jackson and Riley Furnace, Sierra Canyon eventually cut the deficit to one run.
“It's a really good lesson for a young team, for them to understand the game is never over,” Notre Dame coach Justin Siegel said. “As coaches always explain, they're a really talented team. To go to sleep on them for one second is a mistake. It was really neat to watch some of these younger kids step up, especially being so shorthanded. Hats off to Sierra Canyon. Every word in the book you can explain how a well-coached team that won't quit will play, that's Sierra Canyon.”
With Duke commit Hailey Shuler leading the way in the circle for the Trailblazers, the Knights were kept off the scoreboard for the next two innings.
Three seventh-inning runs for the Knights proved too much for the Trailblazers despite their late-game heroic effort. Tapia, who had two hits, including a double, and three RBIs, and company were able to slow down the Trailblazers in the seventh inning even after giving up two more runs.
“Today we came back from a loss, really worked together and it showed today,” said Tapia. “We really worked together as a team getting sac flys and RBI's. We especially wanted this win because we have our transfer from here (Izzy Mertes). I wouldn't say it's a rivalry, but we're always competitive so it was a great win.”