After a rough start to the season, the Burlingame softball team rolled to a surprisingly easy 10-0 victory over visiting San Mateo Friday afternoon in a non-league contest.
In the top of the first inning, senior starting pitcher Megan Ailand retired the side in order on 11 pitches. With a runner on third in the bottom half of the inning, San Mateo freshman Breana Picchi surrendered an inside-the-park homer to Ailand to put Burlingame ahead, 1-0. After a double by senior left fielder/third baseman Kacy Edwards and a Bearcat error, the Panthers increased the lead to 3-0 at the end of one inning.
Ailand struck out the side in the top of the second inning. Later that inning, she entered the batter’s box with the bases loaded. On a 2-1 count, she hit a sharp single to give the Panthers a 6-0 lead. Although many of the runs charged to Picchi were unearned, Burlingame (3-4) managed four more runs in a difficult 56-pitch inning to extend the lead to 10-0.
Because of the comfortable 10-0 lead, Burlingame coach Douglas McKeever brought in junior reliever Raine Armanino. In the top half of third, she gave up a pair of walks and a single.
With one out and the bases loaded, junior pitcher/first baseman Gina Titus hit a soft grounder back to Armanino, who, without hesitation, threw the ball to the catcher. Although the ball appeared to have been on the ground instead of in the catcher’s mitt, the umpire called the Bearcat runner out, diffusing San Mateo's momentum.
Despite a rocky start, Armanino pitched tremendously through the fourth and fifth innings as the Bearcats (0-3) never seriously threatened.
“Our team has had a lot of confidence,” Armanino said. “We’ve been working really hard.”
Ailand contributed greatly to the win, striking out four in two hitless innings on the mound and driving in four runs at the plate in a 2-for-3 performance. While her performance was magnificent, she also stressed the importance of maintaining high-quality infield communication.
“We’ve been communicating better on the field,” Ailand said. “We’re trusting each other.”
While the Panthers are content with the win, they refuse to become overconfident.
“Don’t rely on what you did yesterday to win today,” McKeever said.
The Panthers return home Tuesday afternoon (4 pm) to battle Hillsdale. San Mateo hosts Menlo-Atherton Wednesday afternoon (4 pm).
