Lady Cougars Sweep Home Doubleheader vs. S.D. Mesa
Canyons (17-10, 7-2) pushed its win streak to six games with the two non-conference victories.
Story and photos by Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
College of the Canyons extended its win streak to six games by sweeping its home doubleheader vs. San Diego Mesa College at Whitten Field on Saturday. COC won the first contest 11-10, then took the second game 8-0 in five innings.
In the opener, Canyons scored three runs in the first on a two-RBI fielder's choice from Kaitlyn Post and an infield error from the Olympians that allowed Post to come around and score. An inning later Post doubled home another run and the Cougars were in business 3-0.
Natsuki Kameyama walked in a run in the third to make it all Canyons at 5-0.
COC starter Megan Wilson pitched well with the early cushion but got into a jam in the fourth when the Olympians plated four runs on a combination of four hits, two walks and two COC errors. That outburst cut the Cougars lead at 5-4, but did not slow down the COC bats.
Post scored another run in the fourth, then recorded an RBI in the fifth and later scored on Sierra Boyajian's two run double to deep left field that extended the lead to 9-4.
Two more unearned runs manufactured by the Cougars gave COC a comfortable 11-4 advantage through six innings.
Down but not out, the Olympians rallied for six runs in the final frame to put the pressure on Wilson and the Cougars, but ultimately finished just short at 11-10.
Wilson (11-6) got the win but was charged with seven earned runs on nine hits and four walks. She also struck out four to collect her fourth win of the week. The complete game was her 10th of the season.
Post finished the game 2-for-4 with a walk, three runs and four RBIs, and continued to be productive in the late game. Kameyama was 2-for-4 with a walk, three runs and an RBI.
Canyons picked up right where it left off in the second outing with Post providing a two-run double in the first to open thing sup at 2-0.
Things progressed quickly from there until Rena Edwards drew a bases-loaded walk, then watched as Kameyama singled home another runner for a 4-0 Canyons lead.
Valerie Rivas got in on the action with an RBI sac-fly to plate Post in the fifth. Then with the bases loaded Edwards ripped a two-out double to deep right field which cleared the base paths and ended the game 8-0 after five innings.
Edwards was 1-for-2 with two walks, a stolen base and four RBIs in the game. Post finished her big day by going 3-for-3 with a run and two RBIs. She also worked all five innings for Canyons, facing 16 batters and allowing just three hits to improve her record to 6-3 on the season.
The pair of non-conference victories did not improve COC's position in the Western State Conference (WSC), East Division standings, but does give the Lady Cougars some added momentum heading into Tuesday's matchup with L.A. Valley College.
Canyons (17-10, 7-2) remains behind conference leader Antelope Valley College (22-7, 8-0) and a game ahead of third place L.A. Valley.
COC and L.A. Valley will square off at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Whitten Field.
Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
