SARATOGA -- Viking softball allowed just one run, on a solo home run, in a best-of-three series against the Sacramento City College Panthers as No. 3 West Valley (37-4, 11-3 Coast) advanced to its second straight Round 2 appearance. After a 7-0 shutout victory in the first game, the Vikings ended the Panthers' season in comeback fashion in the second game, coming out victorious in a 3-1 final.
The Vikings, who defeated Sacramento City on the road on opening day by a 9-0 final, used a stellar performance from freshman Kaylee Kline in the opening game. Kline struck out the first batter she faced but allowed a one-out walk before Sac City's three-hitter, Julianna McClain, grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to keep the score even after the first frame. West Valley was in business in the bottom half of the inning, but Angie Fulkerson flew out and Lexi Bojorquez-Nava grounded out with two on and two out to keep the score at bay.
Sacramento City and West Valley traded 1-2-3 innings in the second.
In the top of the third inning, the Panthers' Jia Beebe walked to lead off the frame and stole second base. But Kline, who finished with nine strikeouts, punched the next two out to, yet again, hold the Panthers scoreless.
West Valley drew first blood in the bottom half of the inning, taking advantage of a Sac City mistake on an error by Olivia Murphy, the Panthers' centerfielder. Temple, who reached on the error, then moved to third on a passed ball and came home to score on an RBI single from Raylene Cruz.
After going scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, the offense exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, freshman shortstop Izzy Paskert singled and came home to score on a triple from Temple. Freshman infielder Aneesa Aguon singled Temple home, and after another Cruz knock, Bojorquez-Nava hit a three-run homer to blow the game wide open.
For Bojorquez-Nava, the round-tripper marked her fourth of the season, all of which have come in the past six weeks. It was also her second straight home game with a home run, as she hit one in the regular season home finale against Hartnell.
The Vikings added one more in the bottom of the sixth, this time on Temple's third knock of the day, before Kline coaxed a double play while striking out Sac City's final batter to put the finishing touches on a 7-0 victory.
Overall, the freshman Kline picked up her tenth victory of the season and the first seven inning complete game shutout of her Viking career. She struck out a season-high nine batters, pushing her season total to 78. That mark is good for the sixth-most in a single season from a Viking freshman since at least 2000, and the most by a Viking freshman since America Maples struck out 82 in 2020.
Game two was another pitchers' duel, and this time, a game that the Vikings trailed in. As the designated visiting team, the Vikings had two on with just one out in the top of the first, but the Panthers were able to get out of the inning with a pair of groundouts. Viking starting pitcher Katy Lambert walked a pair of batters in the first inning, but a perfect throw from West Valley catcher Destiny Solis on a stolen base attempt held the game even.
Sacramento City continued to stack on opportunities to score, but Lambert's high-power strikeout stuff kept the Vikings in the game. With two down in the bottom of the second, an Alexia Alvarez single and an Alexia Luevano double put runners on second and third, but Lambert calmly punched out Destiny Denys to end the inning.
But the Panthers still drew first blood with their season on the line. With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, Sadie Ward hammered the first pitch she saw for a solo shot, giving the Panthers both their first run and first lead of the series. West Valley stranded two on in the top of the fifth and, with just six outs remaining, the Vikings trailed by one.
Still, a team with its fair share of rally-needing victories did just that in the sixth inning. With one out, freshman power hitter Angie Fulkerson hit a double, tying the team-lead with 14 before Bojorquez-Nava traded places with her to tie the game. After pinch hitter Sadie Heming struck out, Ella Moser's single through the infield gave the Vikings a lead they wouldn't let up.
Sacramento City posed a comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning, with its first two batters singling and a sacrifice bunt pushing both to scoring position. But sophomore pitcher Ana Marquez struck out Naiomi Garcia and got Alvarez to line out to center to strand the threat.
In the seventh inning, a sacrifice bunt from April Price got home insurance, and Marquez worked through the side in order in the bottom half to secure the victory for the Vikings.
Now, the Vikings head to the Super Regional, where they have a best-of-three matchup looming at home against Cosumnes River. At home in last years' super regional, West Valley swept the Fresno City College Rams, winning 22-3 over the two games. West Valley and Cosumnes River, who upset seventh-seeded Cabrillo this past weekend, have played this season. In a mid-February doubleheader, West Valley took both games by a 3-2 final. The Vikings aim for back-to-back appearances in the state championship this weekend, with first pitch between the Vikings and Hawks scheduled for Friday afternoon.