Woodbridge High's softball team salvaged a split Saturday in its opening round of the Woodbridge Tournament, defeating Elsinore, 7-5, at Deanna Manning Stadium.  The Warriors (3-11 overall) lost to Mission Viejo, 6-0, in the opener.

But Coach Alan Dugard was actually encouraged by his team's play in the first game on Saturday.  "We needed it," Dugard said. "Actually, we played really well against Mission Viejo.  It's probably the best we've played since the Mater Dei game.  We lost the game, but there were a lot of positives in the way they played and the way they attacked the ball."

In the second game Saturday, Woodbridge exploded for five runs in the first inning.  Christina Stepanian drove home a run with a double and Hilary Dorman knocked home two runs with a single.

The Warriors also took advantage of two errors by Elsinore, which had five errors in the game.  In the second inning, the Tigers rallied with three runs to cut the lead to 5-3.  Dugard then brought in sophomore Heather Gorey in relief of starter Kaitlyn Friday and Gorey retired the next three hitters to work out of a jam.

Gorey (2-4) pitched shutout innings in the third, fourth and fifth innings before Elsinore scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings.  She picked up the victory.

Woodbridge wound up with seven hits in the contest.  Stepanian led the way, going 3 for 3 with two runs scored.

The 24-team tournament wraps up on Saturday. 

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