Cougars Take Two From Visiting Riverside City
By Mari Kneisel/COC Sports Information
College of the Canyons swept its home doubleheader from visiting Riverside City College on on Saturday, outscoring the Tigers 16-5 in the two-game set.
Canyons (7-4-1) has put up 29 runs in the last four games, while its pitching staff has allowed just nine.
In the first game, Riverside (7-12) was the first to cross the plat but was soon followed by Canyons. Both teams took turns with alternating leads but eventually COC prevailed in a 5-4 victory.
The Cougars took that winning energy to the second game where they triumphed in an 11-1 five-inning affair.
Brianne Tall came alive racking up a total of six RBIs with a pair of home runs. She now leads the team in RBIs with 14 on the season.
Game 1 (5-4 Canyons Victory)
Riverside was the first to cross home plate in the first and second innings, but Canyons answered right back when Alyssa Silva scored off an infield error while stealing third base, her second stolen base of the inning.
Gabriella Gonzalez later singled to center field, bringing Valery Ramirez home for a 2-2 tie.
The Tigers claimed a brief lead only for an inning before Tall's RBI-single to left, allowed Ashlynn Heck to cross home plate for a 3-3 score.
The Cougars then capitalized on a passed ball and took the lead at 4-3 in the bottom of the third. Riverside responded in the top of the fifth as the Tigers' Janelle Malone singled to center field to tie the game.
With Tall standing at third in the bottom of the eighth Silvia flied out to center field for an RBI sac fly, bringing Tall home for the winning run at 5-4.
Allyson Melgar (6-1) earned the win having faced 37 batters, with six strikeouts and giving up four runs.
Top Performers
- Alyssa Silva — 2-for-2, BB, walk-off sac-fly, 2 SB, 2 R, 2 RBIs
- Ashlynn Heck — 2-for-4, 3B, R
- Brianne Tall — 1-for-3, BB, R, RBI
- Gabriela Gonzalez — 1-for-3, RBI
- Allyson Melgar—W, 8 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 6 Ks
Game 2 (11-1 Canyons Victory)
Canyons had a prosperous five-inning game to close out the double header.
Tall opened up the contest for the Cougars with a home run bringing home Caitlyn Soto and Heck. Lisa Motz was able to tack on another run after Trujillo singled to center for an early 4-0 lead.
A wild pitch made way for Tall to grow the Cougars lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second.
Next inning, Memorie Muñoz stole home for an unearned run and Tall homered again with Soto on base, bringing the score to 8-0.
The Tigers caught a little momentum in the top of the fourth and were able to squeeze in a run. However, Motz' triple to left put an end to any momentum, bringing in Vanessa Reyes.
Heck concluded the Cougars scoring with a double to right field brining home Micayla Paragas and Elizabeth Rowe to solidity an 11-1 victory.
COC pitcher Samantha Flores (2-2) earned the win giving up one run on five hits, two walks and seven strikeouts.
Top Performers
- Brianne Tall — 3-for-3, 2 HR, 3 R, 5 RBI
- Ashlynn Heck — 3-for-4, 2B, R, RBI
- Lisa Motz — 1-for-1, 3B, 2 BB, SB, RBI
- Caitlyn Soto — 1-for-4, 2 R
- Samantha Flores — W, 5 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 7 K
Upcoming Schedule
The Cougars are set to host their conference opener on Thursday, March 10 vs. Citrus College at 2:30 p.m. Canyons then hits the road to face Cuesta College in a non-conference double header on Saturday March 12, with the first game starting at 1 p.m. and the second at 3 p.m.
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.
—Photo by Kyle Kawamoto/COC Sports Information
