Marymount Softball Wins Fourth Straight

Just as head coach predicted, the varsity softball team has raised its level of play since spring break and the results have shown on the field.

The Sailors won their fourth straight game Thursday at Penmar Park, beating Los Angeles Windward 4-1 on a complete game two-hitter by junior pitcher . 

Despite a 1-4 record in seven appearances, the left-handed O'Neill has a 1.21 earned run average with 48 strikeouts in 35 innings.

The Sailors (6-5 overall, 1-0 in league) trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning before breaking the game open with three runs--aided by three Windward errors--and tacking on an insurance run in the sixth.

Senior had two RBIs while sophomore and senior each added one. Freshman had a double and scored a run, as did O'Neill, senior shortstop and Schultz.  

On Tuesday, the Sailors opened Sunshine League play at Westchester Park against host Notre Dame Academy and posted a 5-1 victory behind a five-hitter by Schultz (5-1), who struck out 10 batters and lowered her earned run average to 1.03. The Sailors' co-captain also helped her own cause at the plate with a two-RBI base hit and two runs scored.

Rafferty had two hits and one RBI, Blank had a hit and scored two runs and O'Neill also had one hit and one RBI against the Regals. Co-captain Blank leads the club with a .500 batting average, .833 slugging percentage and .625 on-base percentage.

Schultz was named the varsity squad's after Marymount swept its nonleague doubleheader against Louisville on April 9 at Penmar. She threw a complete game shutout in the Sailors' 10-0 rout in the first game, then notched the win in relief in the second game. Her swinging bunt down the first base line with two outs in the bottom of the seventh scored Blank from third and lifted Marymount to a 5-4 victory. 

The Sailors will try to extend their winning streak next Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. when they travel to Alhambra for a league game against Ramona Convent (8-4, 1-1). Then they will host a nonleague contest against Flintridge Sacred Heart on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Penmar. 

Marymount began the week on the "others" list, just outside the Top 10 in the CIF Southern Section Division 5 poll.