Smith, Sweet, Cai lead Eagles to 4-2 win

Facing a tough pitcher in sophomore Rylei Trujillo, Vista del Lago scratched and clawed for four runs in the fifth inning for a come-from-behind 4-2 non-league win over the Center Cougars (7-8) on Monday. It wasn't a stellar game for the Eagles (6-0 in league, 14-3 overall) on a hot afternoon in Antelope, but the team did what they needed to do to get the win. Sammy Smith and Morgan Sweet had two-out, two-RBI singles and Lexi Holihan and Charlize Cai got the job done in the pitching circle, as Center's only runs came on a two-run home run from sophomore Madyson Welch in the first inning. "It was nice to see us come from behind to win," Vista coach Julie Lazar said. "It was a hot day and we didn't have our usual energy, but we got the clutch hits when we needed them. We talk a lot about situational hitting. You don't have to hit the ball the hardest, you just have to hit it where they are not. Long, fly ball outs do nothing for us. Sammy and Morgan came through in the clutch for us." Down 2-0 entering the top of the fifth, the Eagles started their rally with one out when Cai reached base on an error. Tayler Biehl followed with a walk before Olivia Manchester moved both girls up a base with a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Smith hit a single to the outfield. Holihan then lifted a high fly ball that dropped in shallow left field that put runners on second and third. Sweet then followed with another two-out, two-run hit that put the Eagles in front 4-2. "We had trust that we would eventually score," Smith said. "We trusted each other that we would start to hit. We adjusted to her pitches and that was nice to see. With two outs, I knew I had to hit the ball and score us some runs. Liv but down a nice bunt, so I had to follow that up with a hit and that's what I did." Cai replaced Holihan in the circle and pitched the last three innings and had runners on base in all three innings but worked her way out of trouble. Trujillo hit a one-out double in the fifth inning, but was left at second base, as Cai got the next two batters out with a strikeout and groundout. In the sixth, Center's first two batters reached on a single and a walk. Cai, however, struck out the next two batters for two outs. She walked the bases full before inducing a groundout to end the inning. In the seventh, Cai walked the first batter before a ground ball to Holihan at second base turned into a double play. Cai then got the final out of the game on a fly ball to right field. "Charlize did really well," Smith said. "She's a freshman, but she picks up the team all the time and works hard. I have confidence in all of her pitches." Added Lazar, "Charlize is our future and I'm excited to see how well she's pitching. She maintains her composure and is competitive. She's a great addition to the team, and I'm looking forward to watching her pitch the next few years." Vista plays at home against El Camino on Tuesday before traveling to Del Campo on Thursday.