Stines delivers as ’Dogs stay alive in state finals

Having dropped Thursday’s opener 5-4 to El Camino-Torrance (34-14), the Bulldogs advanced through the losers’ bracket of the double-elimination tournament without room for error.

Stines powered CSM to a 5-3 win in Friday’s opener over Ohlone-Fremont at Citrus College, launching a grand slam in the second inning. Then in Friday’s nightcap at Mt. San Antonio College, the Bulldogs had to make up a two-run deficit in the sixth inning against Sierra (38-9), and again it was Stines who delivered the heroics.

The sophomore stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs, and shot a two-run single to center field to tie it. Lauren Quirke then gave CSM the lead with a two-run single to right en route to a 9-4 victory.

With the wins, CSM advances through the losers’ bracket and into Saturday’s semifinal round. The Bulldogs are slated to take on defending state champion Cypress College at Mt San Antonio College at noon.

Stines (Capuchino) was 3 for 7 with seven 7 RBIs on the day. Quirke (Hillsdale) was a perfect 6 for 6 through the two victories, and also earned the win in the circle against Sierra. The freshman right-hander — who had never pitched prior to arriving at CSM — went the distance, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits while pitching through three Bulldogs errors.

It was all Sierra in the early innings. The Wolverines plated a run in the first and took advantage of a pair of CSM errors to score two more in the second. Quirke battled through trouble in the middle innings, as Sierra had runners reach in the third, fourth and fifth, but kept the Bulldogs within reach.

Then, after the Bulldogs scratched out their first run of the game in the fifth on an RBI groundout by Stines, they exploded for a four-run rally in the sixth. Madeline Morris started the rally with a one-out single. After a walk to Lexi Riccardi, Leaness Donn worked a two-out walk to load the bases.

Sierra starting pitcher Amaryssa got two quick strikes on Stines, but then discovered why CSM’s leadoff hitter is the toughest batter in California to strike out. In 151 at-bats this season, Stines has yet to whiff. The last time she struck out was May 20, 2017 — nearly one year ago — in the 2017 state playoffs.

Facing a 0-2 count, Stines took a pitch in the dirt before singled through the middle of the diamond to score Morris and pinch runner Hailey Hiett with the tying runs. Quirke then rifled a single to right to score Donn and Stines to give CSM a 5-3 lead.

The Bulldogs added four insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Mackenzie Driscoll reached on an error to open the frame. Aubrie Businger and Morris then singled back-to-back to load the bases. Hiett singled home a run, Emily Cotla singled home two more and Quirke closed the inning with an RBI single.

Earlier in the day, it was freshman pitcher Emily McAdams who earned the win. The right-hander out of Sequoia went the distance, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits, pitching through four Bulldogs errors. The victory was No. 40 of the year for CSM.

The other two teams still standing are Palomar-San Marcos and Mt. San Antonio. The two teams meet through the winners’ bracket Saturday at 3 p.m. The loser will face the winner of CSM-Cypress matchup Saturday evening. Championship round play begins Sunday.