SAN JOSE - Host Branham dramatically changed the landscape of the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton standings on Monday afternoon, as the Bruins chipped away at Silver Creek, and eventually emerged with a 3-2 victory.
Silver Creek (10-3, 5-2 BVAL-MH) took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning, on Arianna Mendoza's one-out triple, which scored Alohi Apalla and Atalia Quenga. Branham (4-6, 3-2), however, took advantage of a couple Raiders' miscues in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at two, and then scored the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Madison Ribiero's two-out triple scored Melissa Garcia.
After being handed the lead, Branham sophomore pitcher Carissa Rivera slammed the door. Rivera allowed a lead-off walk in the top of the fifth, but then responded by retiring the last nine Silver Creek batters she faced to preserve the victory.
Mendoza and Adrianna Noriega each had two hits for the Raiders, while Haley Harris had a pair of hits for Branham.
Branham and Silver Creek are each now a game behind Santa Teresa in the loss column, in the Mt. Hamilton standings. Silver Creek has handed Santa Teresa its only loss in league play, while the Saints have a win over Branham. Silver Creek and Santa Teresa play again this Wednesday.
