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Cunningham walks off Dana Hills for thrilling 1-0 win
The second game of the Dolphins-Knights double header was the opposite from the first game. Solid pitching and great defense were displayed by both schools. After three innings dominated by pitching from both sides, Dana Hills put pressure on Stella Turner, who started the game after pitching seven innings in the first game, putting runners on first and second with two outs in the fourth inning. Centerfielder Mikayla Prudholme dashed the Dolphins’ hopes with a shoe-string catch of a sinking line drive that ended the ended the inning. Foothill created a threat of their own in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases with two outs, but Alex Storey grounded into a fielder’s choice for the third out. In the top of the fifth inning, Dana Hills again put pressure on the Knights’ defense. Eva Chahbazian replaced Turner in the circle and gave up two singles sandwiched around a pop out. With runners on first and third, the Dolphins tried a double steal, but Storey cut the throw to second base and fired the ball back to catcher Nicole Zerkel who applied the tag for the out. Chahbazian struck out the next batter looking to end the inning. Foothill again loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Dana Hills pitcher got Shannon Cunningham to ground into a fielder’s choice that cut down the runner at the plate and after a strikeout, the Knights were left off the score board again. Dana Hills got a runner to second base with two outs in the six but could not score, and Foothill did not mount a threat of their own. This set up a dramatic seventh inning. After Chahbazian got the first two batters to fly out, she allowed a single and a passed ball, putting a runner on second base. The next batter flew out to Prudholme in center field. In the bottom of the frame, Arissa Calvillo jumped ahead 3-0 in the count, only to be drawn back to a full count by the Dana Hills pitcher. Calvillo then worked a walk after fouling off another pitch. Alyson Crawford flied out. Delaney O’Donoghue drove a pitch into right field for her third hit of the game, advancing Calvillo to second base. Cunningham atoned for her previous at bat by crushing the first pitch to the fence in right-center field. Calvillo, waiting for the ball to drop, got a slow jump but slid under the tag at home for the winning run. The Knights poured out of the dugout, mobbing Calvillo and Cunningham. For the game Dana Hills was held scoreless while getting seven hits and committing only one error. Foothill scored one run on five hits and committed no errors.
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