No. 8 Canyons Sweeps Doubleheader at No. 3 Saddleback College

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. — The College of the Canyons softball team won the second game of a doubleheader, beating No. 3 state-ranked Saddleback College 6-4 in seven innings to complete the two-game sweep on Friday night.

Head coach John Wissmath's club has now won nine of its last 10 games.

As they did in Game 1, the Cougars needed a big inning to take the lead. This time, Canyons took advantage of sloppy play from the Gauchos.

In the top of the fourth inning with COC trailing 2-1, right fielder Jennifer Metcalf walked to lead off the inning. Metcalf would reach third after a fielder's choice and an infield throwing error on an Erica Esparza grounder put runners on second and third with one out.

Metcalf would score on a Milana Casillas ground out to tie the game at 2-2.

Esparza would score on a wild pitch after the next batter, Emily Smith, struck out. Smith reached first on the play.

Smith scored the Cougars' third run of the inning on Alija Ramirez's double to left field giving COC a 4-2 lead. Ramirez finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. She now has seven RBIs on the season and is batting .302 after 13 games.

COC starting pitcher Kaitlyn Reed earned her eighth win on the year while scattering eight hits, two walks and allowing an earned run in five innings.

Pitcher Ashley Russo earned her first save on the season in two innings of relief to close out the 6-4 victory. 

The win  gives the Cougars a 10-2-1 record on the season.

Canyons will next travel to L.A. Mission College to face conference rival L.A. Mission College in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 10.