NORTHEAST GLENDALE — While the Glendale Community College softball team managed to split its doubleheader against San Diego Southwestern on Saturday, the Vaqueros' 4-0 loss in the nightcap, in which they surrendered three unearned runs in the opening inning and went on to strand eight base runners, had Glendale Coach Dave "Hawk" Wilder taking a glass-half-empty perspective.
"If you can't score runs, it doesn't matter how good you think you are — they beat us," said Wilder, whose team opened the double bill at the Glendale Sports Complex with a 3-2 win. "Whether it was 1-0 or 4-0, if you can't score a run, it doesn't matter.
"When you're struggling swinging the bat, you cannot give away runs."
The Jaguars (2-7) scored all four of their runs in the second game with two outs, including a three-spot in the first inning that was keyed by a three-base fielding error.
Glendale starting pitcher Jennifer Meza, who allowed one earned run on 10 hits with seven strikeouts over seven innings, walked Carlotta Hiney with one out and allowed a base hit to pitcher Nikki Fonteneaux to put runners at first and second. Hiney was thrown out at home by first baseman Brittni Spear while trying to score on Shanice Sutton's single to right field for the second out, but next batter Vivianne Atkins' high fly ball to right field was dropped, allowing Fonteneaux and Sutton to score and putting Atkins on third base.