SAC softball team opens state tourney with thrilling extra inning victory

Alexis Vargas reached base in the late innings to help SAC tie the game. (Photo courtesy SAC Sports Information).

On day one of the 2022 CCCAA Softball State Championship Tournament, the Santa Ana College Dons came from behind to knock off the Butte Roadrunners 3-2 in an extra inning thriller Thursday night in Bakersfield.

The Dons (38-7, 20-4) came up big in the clutch as they found themselves down 2-1 going into the top of the seventh. Alexis Vargas  led off the inning and put the ball in play to force a Roadrunner error which put her in scoring position with no outs. SAC kept the pressure on with a bunt single from Jayleena Perez giving the top of the lineup some big opportunities. 

Alana Rangsuebsin made the most of her shot as she brought home the tying run on a single to shortstop to send the Don dugout into a frenzy. 

But Butte (43-2, 20-0) locked in defensively to hold Santa Ana to just one in the inning. 

Over the next three innings, Emily Rosas and the SAC defense managed to work out of some jams and hold Butte scoreless before the Don offense broke through in the ninth. 

With two outs and runners on first and second, Alex Rangel stepped up with her third hit of the day, pulling a ball through the right side for a game-winning single. 

The Dons held on to the lead in the bottom half to give Butte just their second loss of the season while snapping their 36 game winning streak. 

SAC advances to the winner’s bracket to take on No. 1 seeded Mt. SAC at 2 p.m. on Friday. Mt. SAC defeated San Jose City 6-1 earlier in the day. 

The two teams met once during the regular season with the Mounties taking a 4-0 win. 

—Courtesy SAC Sports Information