Canyons Gets First Conference Win, 9-3 Over L.A. Mission
Story and photos by Mari Kneisel/COC Sports Information
College of the Canyons faced off with L.A. Mission College at Whitten Field on Thursday, playing to a 9-3 home win in its third conference game of the season.
Canyons (12-6-1, 1-2) had been looking for its first victory vs. a Western State Conference (WSC), East Division opponent after dropping a 2-0 road result to Bakersfield College earlier in the week.
COC freshman hurler Samantha Flores (5-3) led the Cougars through six innings from the circle, allowing two earned runs, before handing the ball to Allyson Melgar for the final stretch.
Ashlynn Heck initiated the first push of the game when she tripled to right field bringing Alyssa Silva home. Heck was able to find her way across home plate soon after with some help from Julia Fuentes and her first double of the day constructing a 2-0 Cougar lead.
Fuentes went on to produce another double and recorded four RBIs in the game.
LAMC (14-8, 0-2) found its first run in the top of the second on an RBI-single. The Cougars quickly responded and took off from there.
Lisa Motz doubled in the second allowing Elizabeth Rowe to come home. Fuentes' second double opened the door for Motz to round the bases along with Heck and Silva to put COC ahead 6-1.
The Cougars' momentum was slightly disrupted when L.A. Mission's Lizbeth Mora put one over the fence for a home run that briefly got the Eagles back in the game at 6-2.
However, COC was back on track in the bottom of the fourth producing three more runs before the game concluded.
Mission was able to tack on one more run off an infield error, but the Cougars were too far ahead, closing the game out with a 9-3 final score.
Top Performers
- Julia Fuentes – 3-for-4, 2 2B, 4 RBI
- Ashlynn Heck – 2-for-3, BB, 3B, SB, 2 R, 2 RBI
- Alyssa Silva – 2-for-4, 3 R
- Lisa Motz – 2-for-3, BB, R, RBI
- Samantha Flores – W, 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, HR
Upcoming Schedule
The Cougars next play at El Camino College for a double header Saturday, March 19. First pitch will be at 1 p.m. against Cypress and the second game scheduled at 3 p.m. vs. the host Warriors. WSC, East play continues 2:30 p.m. Thursday, March 24 at Glendale.
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.