HOPE DENIED
Warriors walk it off in electric home opener
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 1 |
|
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final (8) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 2 |
|
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 1 |
By Brandon Petersen
Westcliff Softball opened the 2026 season with resilience and drama Friday, responding to a tough opening loss by rallying past No. 21 Hope International for a thrilling 7-6 walk-off victory in extra innings at the Great Park.
After falling behind late against a nationally ranked opponent, the Warriors leaned on timely hitting and a poised pitching performance down the stretch to secure the program's first win of the season.
Head coach Brandon Wallace said the difference between the two games came down to mindset.
"I told the girls in between games that some of you looked too excited out there, and you need to calm the mindset — slow things down, slow equals smooth," Wallace said. "We were going to have another opportunity. Great teams will always find ways to come back, and they did that."
Westcliff jumped ahead early in Game 2, scoring four runs in the opening frame behind aggressive at-bats and capitalizing on Hope miscues. Madison Mendez delivered a two-run triple to right-center, while Alyssa Lopez and Sydney Rucshner added RBIs to give the Warriors early momentum.
Hope responded midway through the game, highlighted by a three-run home run that flipped the score and put the Warriors under pressure entering the late innings.
Westcliff answered in the seventh when Alyssa Patlan tripled to drive in the tying run, setting the stage for extra-inning drama. In the eighth, Rachel Varela reached base on a fielding error that allowed the winning run to score, sealing the walk-off victory and igniting the Warriors' dugout.
Wallace pointed to several players who bounced back after struggling earlier in the day, including senior Rachel Varela.
"Rachel didn't have her best outing defensively in the first game, but she's been swinging the bat hard in practice," Wallace said. "She redeemed herself in the second game, taking good hacks and finding ways to get on base."
Newcomers also made an immediate impact for Westcliff, particularly junior transfer Jolene Miramontes, who handled the bulk of the innings in the circle before Cecelia Hogel closed out the win.
"We're excited about Jolene — she's hungry, passionate, coachable, and it showed," Wallace said. "And having Cecilia come in and hold it down was huge. We're really impressed with our pitching staff and the options we have."
The Warriors finished with eight hits, led by Alyssa Patlan's three-hit performance and multiple key contributions throughout the lineup. Despite allowing a late rally, Westcliff's pitching staff limited further damage and gave the offense an opportunity to respond.
Wallace said the comeback reflected the team's resilience and preparation.
"We wanted to make a statement this weekend," he said. "The way we've been working and making adjustments — they showed they can stick to the game plan and get it done."
Game 1 — No. 21 Hope International 10, Westcliff 1
Westcliff dropped the opening game of the doubleheader, falling 10-1 in five innings. Hope International scored seven runs in the second inning to take control early, while Jessica Guillen provided the Warriors' lone RBI.