By Mari Kneisel/COC Sports Information

LONG BEACH — College of the Canyons traveled to Long Beach City College for a non-conference double header on Friday, dropping the first game 5-4 then working for a 10-9 comeback win in the second.

COC freshman Samantha Flores started and went the distance in both games, taking a loss and later earning a win. Julia Fuentes was active at the plate for the Cougars and finished the day with three RBIs and two runs. 

The Vikings (25-10, 13-5) were able to come back from an early game one deficit, and later pushed across a late run to salvage a 5-4 victory.

Canyons (21-14-1, 5-4) was able to plate 10 runs in two big innings to down LBCC 10-9 in the second outing.

Game 1 (5-4 Long Beach victory)

The Cougars were first to score netting two runs in the first inning with help from Fuentes, Lisa Motz and Allyson Melgar. However, in the second frame the Vikings twice made their way across home plate for a 2-2 ball game.

Long Beach took a two-run lead in the third inning, forcing the Cougars to play catch-up the rest of the way. 

Canyons managed to put up a run in the fourth on a Sabrina Englebrecht RBI-single that scored Alyssa Silva. In the fifth, it was Brianne Tall's RBI-double that brought around Ashlynn Heck and tied the game at 4-4. 

However, the Vikings fought to push across the winning run in the sixth inning resulting in a 5-4 Cougar loss.

Flores pitched all six innings for the Cougars to take the loss. She allowed five runs on 10 hits and five walks but battled throughout the contest. 

Top Performers

• Julia Fuentes – 1-for-4, 2B, R RBI
• Allyson Melgar – 2-for-4, RBI
• Lisa Motz – 1-for-3, BB, 2 SB, R
• Brianne Tall – 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
• Sabrina Englebrecht – 1-for-3, 2 SB, RBI

Game 2 (10-9 Canyons Victory)

Long Beach manufactured a 6-0 lead through the first four innings in a game that had the makings of a runaway win for the Vikings.

But Canyons came alive in the fifth inning and put up six runs, starting with a single from Caitlyn Soto that allowed Alyssa Silva to score and moved Sabrina Englebrecht to third. Englebrecht eventually came home on a single from Motz. Soto and Motz both tacked on runs from Fuentes' second double of the day. Then Melgar singled to bring Heck and Fuentes around for two more runs and a 6-6 score. 

The Vikings briefly regained the lead at 7-6 in the bottom of the fifth, but the Cougars didn't let up.

Soto, Motz and Heck all recorded RBI-singles in the sixth to propel Canyons ahead at 10-7.

Long Beach fought to catch up, pushing two more runs through in the seventh, but it wasn't enough as Canyons left town with the 10-9 victory.

Flores (8-10) was credited with the win pitching all seven innings, giving up nine runs on 15 hits and issuing three walks to go with two strikeouts. 

Top Performers

• Julia Fuentes – 1-for-3, BB, 2B, R, 2 RBI
• Allyson Melgar – 2-for-4, 2B, 2RBI
• Cailtyn Soto – 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI
• Lisa Motz – 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI
• Ashlynn Heck – 2-for-4, R, 2 RB

Upcoming Schedule

The Cougars continue conference play at home vs. Glendale College at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 19. 

COC will then play a Thursday home game vs. L.A. Valley College at Whitten Field on Thursday, April 21. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

The homestand continues with a non-conference double header vs. Palomar College that on Saturday, April 23. Games are scheduled for 12 and 2:30 p.m.

Canyons softball home games will be live streamed to fans on YouTube via the Cougars Sports Network. Continue to monitor www.COCathletics.com for livestream links or subscribe to the COC Athletics channel on YouTube.  

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