Becker’s No-Hitter Lifts Sierra College to 4-0 Win
By: Steven Wilson, Sports Editor - The Press Tribune
Sierra College's sophomore pitcher Jordan Becker has the perfect Mother's Day present.
Following her dominant 14-strikeout, no-hitter against Shasta College on Friday, Becker was awarded the game ball as the Wolverines won their opening bout of the Super Regional against Shasta College.
"I've been here 16 years and that is one of the best performances I've witnessed," Sierra's coach Darci Brownell confessed. "The only thing stopping her from a perfect game was that base-on-balls and it was a full-count walk with a pitch that was close — it can't get any better than that."
Through four innings, the Wolverines' ace was pitching a perfect game before a freebie shifted the focus to a no-hitter. But the defense tightened and helped Becker seal the deal.
"Honestly, I've only had one other (no-hitter) in my entire career," she admitted. "So this means so much to me. When we got back in the locker room after the game my coach congratulated me and my teammates all screamed. And I got the game ball."
Becker's family was in attendance for the monumental performance and she has no doubt that ball will find its way to the mantle place eventually.
"Her other present will be to come watch me pitch again today," Becker joked.
After a strong weekend in the opening round of the playoffs against Napa Valley College, No. 18 was painting the corners once again. This time, she struck out a total of 14 Knights including five batters in the first two innings.
"Without that base-on-balls, it was perfect game," Brownell added. "She was bringing it and they weren't able to touch her. At least last week they were hitting foul balls, but today she did it with minimal pitches, which was impressive."
Despite the strong showing from the circle, Sierra College struggled to take the lead.
"We didn't score early," Brownell admitted. "She (Becker) was throwing a great game and I told my girls, 'you have got to start supporting her.' Getting one run wasn't enough, so it wasn't until that four-run cushion when Jordan turned it on and sealed the deal."
Right-fielder Bailey Nordquist began a three-run fifth-inning for the Wolverines to give Becker a little breathing room.
"I just knew that I had to come in here and do my job," Becker said. "I tried not to think about it at the end, but I got kind of nervous."
Doing all they could to help their pitcher make personal history, the Wolverines defense held tight throughout the afternoon and did not commit a single error.
"The toughest thing to do as a defense is to be on your toes and be awake when someone's striking out that many people," Brownell said.
After winning the state title in 2014, the Wolverines will continue their quest to repeat today at home in the Super Regional.
"We wanted to stay in the winners bracket, so these wins are big," Becker concluded. "It would be so cool to go back to the finals and win it in back-to-back years."