San Marcos Softball Swept by Rio Mesa in Home Opener
By Barry Punzal, Noozhawk Sports Editor | @NoozhawkSports
April 10, 2021
San Marcos lost both ends of a doubleheader in its softball home-opener against Rio Mesa on Saturday. The Spartans won the first game, 4-2, in eight innings and took the nightcap 15-5.
With San Marcos ahead 2-0 in the seventh, Rio Mesa capitalized on an error and a passed ball to score one run and tied the score on two-out infield popup that was lost in the wind.
The Royals scored a run in the first inning on back-to-back doubles by Caitlyn Early and Allie Fryklund. Early scored the second run in the third inning on a single by Tiana Monaghan.
In the nightcap, San Marcos committed five errors.
Early had a big day at the plate, going 5 for 8 with a double and four runs scored. Fryklund went 4-7 with a double, home run and four RBI. Gigi Gritt was 2-6 with a double and a RBI.
“I was extremely happy how we competed in both games, despite letting the first game slip away, and then the one-sided loss in game two,” said coach Jeff Swann. “We are a young team and this was a good learning experience for our younger players. They were challenged to compete at a high level and they didn’t shy away from it. We have some good lessons learned from these two games and I know we will improve.”
The Royals (1-2) play at Santa Paula on Tuesday before opening league at Santa Barbara on Wednesday.