East Union coach Brian Goulart wanted to see more energy out of his club and production out of the bottom half of the order on Friday.
The Lancers delivered.
They hammered three home runs and rebounded from a disappointing loss with a needed 11-8 Valley Oak League win over visiting Manteca at Northgate Softball Complex.
The rival clubs exchanged four leads in the first five innings, but the Lancers (6-3 VOL, 13-5 overall) — coming off a discouraging 10-2 loss to Sierra — used the longball to gain separation.
Senior Ally Roberts, batting from the No. 8 spot, ignited the home run derby in the bottom of the second, clearing the left-center field fence for three RBIs and a 4-2 Lancers lead.
“I wasn’t going up there trying to get a big hit, just wanted to help get the team going somehow,” she said. “It just worked out that way.
“That (Sierra loss) was obviously a rough one and we still have a lot to work on, but we have the desire to win,” Roberts added. “We wanted to be the type of team that bounces back and that was our mentality.”
Manteca (6-4, 13-8), which has lost nine straight to the Lancers, answered with a four-run rally in the fourth, getting doubles from Kaylee MacDannald (3 for 5, RBI, run) and Kaileah Johannsen and a RBI single from Koryn Menasco (2 for 5). They were also aided by two errors.
The Lancers recaptured the lead for good in the bottom half of the frame, which ended in controversy. Menasco, shortly after she was relieved by Alyssah Harnden in the pitcher’s circle, laid out for a diving catch in left field and then forced out a runner at second for an inning-ending double play. Allie Tajii (2 for 2, three runs) plated the go-ahead run on the play, which the Buffaloes believed should not have counted.
Then in the fifth, Danyelle Godoy slugged a pinch-hit solo jack from the No. 7 spot in the order, stretching East Union’s lead to 8-6. She finished 2 for 2.
“I’m so excited for Godoy,” Goulart said. “I’ve been so tough on her expecting to be that super athlete. She made two great plays in left with the sun in her eyes and hit a big homer. She came in and contributed greatly.”
Freshman Allie Parker administered the backbreaking blow in the sixth with a three-run homer to left. She went 2 for 3 and the Lancers totaled 13 hits, but the three that left the yard hurt Manteca most.
“That’s kind of been biting us,” Manteca coach Josh Farris said. “It happened in our losses to Oakdale, Sierra and now East Union. We’ve been victimized by the long ball. What we try to do is keep them off base. If it’s a solo shot that’s one thing, but three-run bombs are killing us right now.”
The Buffaloes trailed 11-6 going into the seventh but was able to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. Vanessa Lopez (2 for 4, two runs) started the one-out threat with a single and was driven in on an infield hit from Ella Washburn (2 for 3). Rhiannon Genilla later drew a bases-loaded walk, giving Menasco — the Buffaloes’ No. 3 hitter — up to bat.
Menasco connected with a solid shot off reliever Hayley Leonard’s 1-1 offering but ended up grounding out to first.
“I said if we can get Koryn up in the seventh we’ll have a shot,” Farris said. “Credit to my girls, they fought all the way through.”
Sophomore
East Union 18, Manteca 0
Ariana Harris clobbered three doubles on her three at-bats and drove in a pair of runs in the Lancers’ lopsided victory.
Andrea Smith also finished 3 for 3, plating three runs to go with two RBIs. Amanda Valentine contributed a single and two runs. Emma Silva and Kaitlyn Leal combined for a five-hitter.
Freshman
East Union 20, Lathrop 1
Serena Rubalcalba pitched three innings for the Lancers, striking out five with no runs.
Macie Dias struck out three for East Union in two innings of work and Kayla Valiquette went 2 for 2 with three RBI.
