OAKLAND, CA - The first three batters of the bottom of the fourth inning provided the difference for Bishop O'Dowd on Tuesday night, as the Dragons squeaked past Alameda, 2-1, in the semifinals of the WACC-Foothill conference tournament.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Michael Edwards-Gonzales led off the inning with an infield single to short. Frankie Hammoude then doubled on a fly ball to right field, placing runners on second and third with no outs. Nicole Hammoude wasted no time capitalizing on the opportunity, singling on the first pitch she saw, scoring both Edwards-Gonzales and older sister Frankie for the 2-1 lead.
Alameda got a runner to third in both the fifth and sixth innings, but O'Dowd pitcher Elizabeth Avery escaped each time, and finished the game with an exclamation mark, striking out two of the final three batters she faced. For the game, Avery notched 13 strikeouts while allowing just two hits, though she did walk five. Lucy Helms took the loss for Alameda, allowing four hits while striking out eight.
Alameda's lone run came in the top of the third, when Bella Vick singled with two outs to score Sophia Piamonte, who had walked earlier in the inning.
Bishop O'Dowd advances to face Castro Valley in the conference championship game.
