Alvarez, Verlin lead Falcons to 4-1 win over Sierra

The Folsom Lake softball team put it all together on Thursday evening with an exhilarating 4-1 win over Big 8 co-leader Sierra College at Falcon Diamond.  It marked the first win over Sierra in Falcon softball history and put the Falcons just 1/2 game behind Sierra in the standings.  Starting pitcher Lilly Alvarez, despite allowing eight hits,  avoided hard contact all evening and got important outs when she needed them.  Head coach Amber Grahlman made all the right moves, including inserting Sydnee Verlin as a pinch-hitter with two on and two out and the score tied 1-1 in the fourth inning.  Verlin responded with the biggest hit of the game, a 2-run triple that put the Falcons ahead 3-1.  Lauren Martinez followed with an RBI double for an insurance run.  When Sierra mounted a rally with one out in the seventh inning, Grahlman brought in Adriana Gonzalez with the bases loaded and the go-ahead run at the plate.  After falling behind 3-0, Gonzalez got the Wolverines' batter to hit a line drive at third baseman Martinez, who made the catch and tagged the runner for a game-ending double play.

The Falcons (15-7, 7-2 in Big 8) will host Santa Rosa (14-8, 6-3) for a doubleheader at FLC on Saturday starting at 12 noon.