Special to the Sun
Los Alamitos’ women varsity softball team split a pair of Sunset League games last week, defeating Newport Harbor at home and losing a road game to Esperanza.
The Griffins (3-1 in league play and 15-8 overall) won the game with Newport, 9-1.
The squad scored a run in the first before breaking things open with four runs in the third. Los Al scored twice in both the fourth and fifth innings to end its scoring.
The Sailors avoided the shutout with a run in the seventh off Griffin pitcher Amanda Sugita. Sugita, a junior, allowed three hits, and struck out 11 with one walk in the complete game win.
Kelsey Neipris led the hit parade with three hits, including an RBI-double.
Freshman Megan Geer and Alicia Walker each had two hits while Lacey Nilsen, Allison Brown and Kailey Willingham each had one hit for Los Al.
Los Al’s offense had its problems Thursday at Esperanza, picking up just three hits in a 4-0 loss to the Aztecs. Esperanza, which had just five hits, picked up the only run it’d need in the second but added a single run in the third and a pair in the fifth.
Alex Finie had two hits for Los Al while Nicole Baltierra had the other hit for the Griffins.
Sugita took the loss in the circle, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits in her 4 1/3 innings. She struck out five, walked none and hit a batter. Stephanie Luhmann came on in relief, allowing an earned run on three hits while picking up one strikeout.
Los Alamitos closed out the first round of league play Tuesday with a home game vs. Marina (no details were available as of press time).
The Griffins play at Edison Thursday afternoon at 3:15.
Los Alamitos won the first meeting, 6-2.
