San Marcos Softball Slugs Its Way to 15-5 Win Over Flintridge Sacred Hart in Playoff Opener
by Diego Sandoval, Noozhawk Sports Editor
May 2, 2024 | 10:24 pm
The San Marcos Royals, pictured from an earlier game, put together an all-around performance in Thursday’s playoff-opening win. (Lily Chubb / Noozhawk Photo)
San Marcos softball’s bats came alive and powered them to a 15-5 road win over Flintridge Sacred Heart in the CIF-SS Div. 4 playoff opener on Thursday.
With the victory, the Royals will now play host to Paraclete on Tuesday at 3:15 p.m.
The San Marcos offense made its presence felt throughout the matchup, as they piled on 17 hits and scored in all six innings of the mercy-rule win.
“I think our offense did a good job of capitalizing when we had runners in scoring position today,” Royals coach Emily Dietz said. “We were able to score in all innings through taking advantage of some defensive miscues and coming up with big hits. Top to bottom of the lineup contributed.”
Charlotte Hastings got the scoring started with a two-run single in the top of the first to score Tiana Monaghan and Solana Sandoval.
Kayla Aguilar added on an RBI sacrifice fly in the second before Hastings came through once again with an RBI base knock in the third inning to expand the San Marcos lead out to 4-0.
Hastings ended the day 4-for-5 with four RBI and one run scored.
The onslaught continued in the third inning when Emma Foster roped a two-run homer over the right-field fence to headline a three-run inning that ballooned the advantage to 7-0. The long ball was the senior’s first of her career.
“The way the team reacted (to Foster’s home run) says everything about that moment,” Dietz said. “She’s been hitting them out at practice more lately and we all knew it was a matter of time before she made it happen. She wanted it so badly and I couldn’t be happier for her.”
However, Flintridge Sacred Heart responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the third to put a dent in the San Marcos lead.
The Royals never flinched, pouring on eight more runs across the final two innings, capped off by Monaghan’s 10th homer of her senior season, a three-run shot to left field.
“I’m proud of how our girls reacted and got those runs back,” Dietz said. “They didn’t let it shake them up too much.”
From there, San Marcos put the finishing touches on the 15-5 opening-round victory.
Lucy Dessert was in the circle for the Royals throughout all six innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out six batters.
Monaghan’s homer was the cherry on top of a strong day at the plate where she went 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs scored.
Isa Malarkey also tallied three hits for the Royals while scoring a pair.
Foster, Sandoval and Aguilar each collected two hits as well in the big offensive performance. Foster drove in three runs and scored two of her own.