Three unearned runs in the top of the first inning started the game badly for the Bulldogs and it never got much better.
Burbank would go on to struggle in every facet of the game against the Centurions (12-7, 1-1), who advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division I semifinals last year.
Saugus' lineup, considered one of the most potent in the Southland, flourished with 11 hits in five innings, aided by the fact that Burbank ace Kristen Peraza was battling an illness. Peraza lasted just three innings, allowing seven runs ? only three were earned, however.
Peraza, who had her team's lone hit in Friday's nine-inning, 1-0 loss to Burroughs, had one of Burbank's two hits Tuesday. Daisy Beltran had the other, while Kristina Ortiz reached on an error and Brianne Schafer was hit by a pitch. That was it in the Burbank base-running department.
"Our bats were dead today," said Kovar, whose team has now been held scoreless in its last two games and managed just three combined hits.
Most disturbing to the Burbank coaches were the errors. There were four in all, along with a handful of plays that could've been made, but weren't ? including a bevy of extra bases taken by a hustling Saugus team against a lackadaisical Burbank team.
Indeed, the Bulldogs, ranked as high as sixth in Division I this season, must clearly change their fortunes.
"This is exactly what I don't want," said Kovar of Friday's performance. "It's great to have a great record, but what we did before [isn't as important as league]. Regardless of what we have done, we need to come out here [ready to play]."
The road doesn't get any easier, either. First-place Valencia ? the defending league champion, top-ranked team in Division I and a CIF finalist last season ? awaits on Thursday.
Said Kovar: "You have got to come out here with a fighting spirit if you think you're going to beat a Burroughs, Hart, Valencia or Saugus."
