While Elizabeth Gonzalez and Brooke Cullison dealt in the circle, the Rams scored five of six of their runs with two down.  The two-out rallies carried Millikan over the Cerritos Dons, 6-0, on Tuesday afternoon in the CIFSS Wild Card game at Cerritos High. 

“We’re better than our record reflects,” said Millikan coach Don Harper.  “The (younger players) are learning on the fly, but were improving every time we take the field… and we’re starting to play some defense behind Liz.”

Gonzalez dominated from the outset and struck out five of the first six hitters she faced.  When she did give up contact, the defense— and specifically second baseman Nicole Mendez— scooped it up behind her.  Gonzalez went four innings and gave up one hit while striking out seven.  Cullison gave up just two hits in three innings.

The scoring with two outs got started in the first inning after two groundouts and Brittany Adler’s triple to right field.  After two walks and an error loaded the bases, Eris Perez roped a double to right that scored two.  Millikan added two more in the third off of two singles from Perez and Melisa Sponholtz, and two scoring ground balls from Nina Sarno and Jordan Collier.  Adler added two more hits, and was a home run away from the cycle.

“We’re headed in the right direction,” said Harper.  But right now, that direction is headed straight into, “a buzz-saw.”

Millikan has to see the top seed in the bracket, Vista Murrieta, on Thursday in the first round.