CHINO HILLS — Scoring a run in the top of the first inning can go a long way toward winning a game between two high school softball teams bound for the playoffs.

That was the case for Bonita in Thursday’s Palomares League showdown with Ayala.

But that momentum didn’t last long as Ayala scored three unearned runs in the bottom half of the inning en route to a 4-1 victory.

“We have a lot of confidence against this pitcher (Serenity Reyes),” Ayala coach John Ameluxen said. “We’ve hit her the last two years. It’s a great group of kids. They work so hard in practice. They’re working on the little things and they’re just soaking it up.”

The victory kept Ayala (11-2 overall, 6-1 league) in first place, percentage points ahead of Glendora (12-5, 7-2) and a game and a half ahead of Bonita (13-8, 5-3).

Ayala is 3-0 against Bonita this season, winning twice in league and once in a tournament. The teams have one game remaining against each other, May 6.

Bonita got its run in the first with three hits to start the game: a double by Koa Puppe and singles by Adriana Mangini and Skyy Hicks.

But for the second time this week, Bonita’s defense faltered.

With one out, Marissa Dominguez reached on an error, and Taelor Walker and Lilanna Acosta singled to score one run.

The second and third runs scored on the same play: a sacrifice fly by Jayden Tamura and a throwing error to make it 3-1.

“I thought we came out in the first inning, hit the ball hard. We made some things happen early,” Bonita coach Darren Baumunk said. “I wish we could’ve gotten a couple more in. Right now we’re struggling on hitting a little bit.

“The big thing we’ve been talking about in the last two games we’ve played (against Glendora and Ayala), we’ve given up 10 runs and none of them have been earned. Give credit to Ayala, they capitalized on our mistakes.”

That was enough offense for Acosta, who allowed six hits, walked one and struck out two.