Prep softball: Mustangs go the distance, win in 10

IRVINE - Costa Mesa High sophomore Jane-E Yamamoto scored the

game-winning run after a throwing error to lead the Mustangs softball

team to a 5-4 10-inning, Pacific Coast League-opening victory over host

University Tuesday.

Yamamoto singled to reach, stole second and advanced to third on

Jennifer Jordan’s bunt. A throwing error to first base led to Yamamoto’s

run.

Mesa junior shortstop Ann Marie Topps, who slammed an RBI triple in

the third inning, recorded the final two outs by making exceptional

defensive plays in the bottom of the 10th, Mustangs Coach Rick Buonarigo

said. Jade Moss, a Mesa junior outfielder, went 2 for 4 with a run scored

and two stolen bases.

Costa Mesa (11-6) lost a 4-2 lead when the Trojans (4-7-1) scored two

runs in the bottom of the seventh. Uni nearly won the game because the

Trojans, with runners on the corners, attempted a delayed steal. But

freshman catcher Lauren DeMello threw to second and the ball bounced off

the second base player’s glove and fell into Topps’, who snagged it and

tagged out the runner to negate the Trojan runner crossing home plate.

Costa Mesa returns to PCL action Thursday at 3:15, hosting Northwood

at TeWinkle Park.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Costa Mesa 5, University 4

Costa Mesa 103 000 000 1 - 5 11 4

University 000 110 200 0 - 4 6 3

Lindsay and L. DeMello; Moon and Maddle. W - Lindsay, 11-6. L - Moon,

4-7-1. 2B - Fishbeth (U). 3B - A. Topps.