Lady Bulldogs begin season with 5-3 loss to Buena

The Douglas Lady Bulldogs softball team kicked off their season last week with a 5-3 loss to the Buena Colts.

Sophomore Samantha Gonzales started the game in the circle for Douglas and went five innings giving up five runs off five hits while fanning two and walking one. She was relieved by freshman Danielle Galaz who went two innings and gave up no runs off three hits while fanning none and walking none.

Buena struck first in the top of the first when Selah Brody tagged Gonzales for a home run to left center field giving the Colts a 1-0 lead.

Buena added two more in the second increasing its lead to 3-0.

Douglas then scored when Jessica Quinonez reached base and later scored on a error cutting Buena’s lead to two.

The Lady Colts tacked on two more runs in the fifth increasing their lead to 5-1.

Douglas added a run in the sixth pulling within three.

With bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh Douglas’ third hitter Brianna Salcido hit into a fielders choice scoring Maricella Holguin from third with the final run for the Lady Bulldogs.

Quinonez, Aileen Alegria and Jocelyn Vasquez each hit 1 for 3 this game while Andrea Lugo and Salcido each were 1 for 4.

Douglas’ softball coach Abe Grijalva said after the game he was quite pleased with the effort of his two young pitchers.

“That was one of the surprises of the game,” he said. “They both threw well unfortunately we just didn’t back them up. … I was very impressed with our pitchers today.”

The defense struggled somewhat Monday and the coach said his team did a good job of making contact with the ball.

The coach said all in all it was a good opener and he saw a lot of good things.

“Overall I was very happy with our performance,” he said. “We’re going to be okay. … We just need to relax, play ball and let our athletic ability take over.”