No. 13 Canyons Downs Santa Ana Dons 6-3 on Opening Day

The No. 13 state ranked College of the Canyons softball team defeated visiting Santa Ana College 6-3 in Tuesday's season opener, played under gloomy skies at Ray Whitten Field.

Canyons didn't let the weather affect its play, however, as the Cougars got to work really early behind starting pitcher Ashley Russo.

Russo, a 2015 Second Team All-Western State Conference (WSC) honoree, went the distance and finished with four strikeouts while surrendering three runs — all of which came in the top of the fourth inning.

The Cougars held a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth, but the Dons weren't done yet. Santa Ana was able to get some base runners and parlayed that with a couple of deep swings that found the gap and plated three runs in the process.

Russo faced seven batters in that inning, but eventually settled down and retired three consecutive batters to end the inning and kill the SAC rally.

Canyons quickly evened the score in the bottom of the fourth, after freshman designated player Sarah Wilson doubled to left field,

COC scored twice more in the bottom of the fifth, and added another insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.

Sophomore first baseman Kiana Holder led Canyons by going 4-for-4 and scoring one run in her Cougar debut.

Wilson finished 1-for-1 with a walk, scored one run and driving in another with a sacrifice fly that brought home second baseman Gabrielle Padilla in the second inning. Her lone hit was the double that allowed Russo to score the tying run.

COC freshman left fielder Bailey Bodkin scored in the bottom of the fifth after the SAC pitcher walked a batter with the bases loaded.

Wilson, Russo and Bodkin each recorded their first RBIs of the season.

Canyons (1-0) will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 6, at Cypress College. The Cougars will play a double-header facing Rio Hondo (2-3) at 12:30 p.m. and later squaring off against host Cypress (0-0) at 2:30 p.m.