A half hour later after losing to Colorado State University, the De Anza baseball game resumed. The De Anza College Dons turned the page and prepared to face the tournament host, the Modesto College Pirates, which had beaten De Anza in their previous meeting.

The first 7 innings of the game showcased a classic pitchers duel, with neither team able to produce any runs. Dons starting pitcher Brendon Poss held the Pirates to 7 scattered hits through 7.1 innings.

“Poss pitched tremendously, keeping them off balance all day long,” said Coach Scott Hertler.

The Dons’ offense was sputtering when it came to manufacturing runs, resulting in seven scoreless innings.

“We didn’t bunt the ball very well and it made our job harder,” said Hertler.

All that changed in the eighth inning with one swing of the bat. With two outs and runners on first and second base, Benson Williams was summoned as a pinch hitter, proving to be the turning point of the game. Williams laced a triple into the left center field gap, barely evading the outstretched glove of the diving left fielder by inches.

“He got the clutch hit,” said Hertler. Kalehua Moniz and Jamie Wagner came around to score on the play, giving the Dons a 2-0 lead.

Nevertheless, the Pirates did not go down without a fight, stringing together a couple hits in the bottom of the eighth and knocking Poss out of the game. Moniz was called upon once again to come in and put out the fire. He was able to get the job done, inducing a ground ball to third base, which started an inning-ending double play.

Modesto College threatened the Dons’ lead once again in the ninth inning. “I was focusing on trying to get the pitch down, to get a double play ball,” said Moniz.

Sure enough, Moniz managed to get the job done yet again, coaxing a second consecutive inning-ending double play. “It was huge,” said Hertler.

The Dons immediately swarmed the infield, celebrating their first victory of the year.

“It feels really good to finally get that first win. Not just for my personal statistics, but this team has been working extremely hard to get that first win and to contribute in any way possible to getting that first win, felt really good,” said Poss.

Sophomore-standout Moniz added, “It feels like all the pressure is off. Now we can just go out and play.”