No 9 Canyons Takes Series Opener 8-0 at No. 7 Santiago Canyon

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

ORANGE — No. 9 College of the Canyons collected nine base hits and swiped seven bases and pitcher Samantha Flores was brilliant in the circle, as the Cougars methodically took down No. 7 Santiago Canyon College by shortened 8-0 final score in five innings on Friday. 

Canyons (25-15-1), now winners in six of its last seven, received a big boost from Flores who faced just one batter over the minimum in making her first collegiate postseason start. She walked one and allowed three hits. 

Flores has been remarkable down the stretch and has now won her last five starts dating back to April 15. Four of those wins have come against state-ranked opponents Long Beach City, Palomar, Antelope Valley and now Santiago Canyon.

The Cougars were also aided offensively by six SCC (29-5) errors that led to four unearned runs.

Alyssa Silva and Ashlynn Heck both plated runs on infield errors in the first inning to put Canyons ahead 2-0 early. 

Things seemed to mushroom from there as Lisa Motz added a two-run double in the second that brought Valery Ramirez and Gabriela Gonzalez in to score at 4-0. 

The Cougars added a run from Brianne Tall in the third to move ahead 5-0, this time coming as the result of a wild pitch from Santiago Canyon starter Stella Turner.

Turner took the loss after allowing eight runs, four earned, on nine hits. She struck out one batter and was severely hampered by fielding issues.

Julia Fuentes singled in another run in the fourth, then stole second to prompt a sequence in which an errant throw allowed Silva to score and bring the game to 8-0.

Flores then recorded the final three outs in the sixth to complete her second shutout of the season.

Top Performers

• Lisa Motz — 2-for-3, 2B, SB, R, 2 RBI
• Ashlynn Heck — 1-for-3, SB, R, RBI
• Julia Fuentes — 1-for-3, SB, 2 RBI
• Sabrina Englebrecht — 2-for-3
• Samantha Flores — W, 5 IP, 3 H, BB

Upcoming Schedule

Canyons and Santiago Canyons will continue its best-of-three series beginning at noon on Saturday, May 7. If necessary, and third and final game would be played approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game two.

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 Sarah Ehrsam/COC Athletics