Cougars Blank Saddleback In Third Game of Playoffs, Advance To Super Regionals

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - The No. 5 College of the Canyons softball team defeated No. 12 Saddleback College 13-0 in the third game of the best-of-three series on Sunday afternoon, earning the Cougars a 2-1 first-round series victory and the chance to move on to the Super Regionals. This marks the second consecutive year that COC will making an appearance in the Super Regional round, after hosting one of the two, four-team tournaments in 2012.

After Canyons lost the first game in the best-of-three series yesterday, the Cougars came roaring back on Sunday to blank the Gauchos 12-0 and 13-0 in back-to-back games. Saddleback could only muster six total hits in the two games, as sophomore pitcher Kimmie Lockhart was tagged with the victories in both matchups. 

COC scored at will in game three, notching runs in every inning except the second. The Cougars gathered 14 hits and saw center fielder Savannah Gutierrez and right fielder Andrea Brackpool hit homeruns, including a grand slam from Brackpool in the top of the third. 

Gutierrez went 4-for-4 on the afternoon with two doubles, a homerun and a RBI, while Lockhart went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs.Lockhart also notched two strikeouts and only walked two batters in her time in the circle. 

Canyons now awaits to see which Super Regional they will go travel to. The remaining playoff teams will be reseeded and top two highest remaining programs will host the two Super Regionals in a double elimination tournament. 

Bakersfield College will play host to this year's softball state championships, being held May 17-19.