No. 15 Canyons Softball Takes Down Glendale 9-1

By Mari Kneisel/COC Sports Information

No. 15 College of the Canyons drove in another conference win, this time defeating visiting Glendale College at Whitten Field on Thursday in a comfortable 9-1 final score.

Canyons (8-2, 3-1) produced a steady influx of runs leading to a shortened six-inning ball game backed by sophomore pitcher Allyson Melgar.

Coming off a no-hitter versus L.A. Valley College in her last start, Melgar (5-2) lead her team against the Vaqueros for five and 1/3 innings serving four strikeouts while allowing an unearned run on five hits and a walk. 

Melgar, the current COC Student-Athlete of the Week, also went 1-for-4 at the plate with a two-RBI double.

Schalyn Rhambo set the precedent early in the first inning, singling and stealing second to go on and nab the first run of the game. Rhambo finished the game 2-for-5 with a run, a double and two RBIs. 

Canyons continued to tack on runs, seeing RBIs from five other Cougars while avoiding any strikeouts.

Glendale (4-11, 0-3) scored in the third inning on a Cougars defensive error allowing for Mya Chacon to put a run on the board at 2-1.

Chacon also opened the game for the Vaqueros before handing the ball to teammate Isabel Paynter (1-4) after one and 2/3 innings of work. Chacon allowed for two runs, three walks and received two errors. Paynter was charged with the loss after allowing seven runs on seven hits, with eight walks.

COC freshman Lexy Angulo pitched the final two outs for the Cougars before a double off the bat of Rhambo, brought home Valery Ramirez and Ashlynn Heck to get the Cougars a shortened six-inning win.

Canyons began the week as the No. 15 ranked team in the state and the No. 9 team in Southern California according to the most recent California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association (3CFCA) rankings.

Top Performers

• Schalyn Rhambo – 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 SB
• Allyson Melgar – 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, SB / W (5-2), 5.1 IP, 5 H, R, BB, 4 K
• Ashlynn Heck – 1-for-1, 3 R, 3 BB, SB
• Julia Fuentes – 1-for-2, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI, SB

Upcoming Schedule

The Cougars are set to host Santiago Canyon in a non-conference doubleheader Saturday, March 4. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. and the second game scheduled to begin at approximately at 2 p.m.

Conference play continues for Canyons on Tuesday, March 7 at Antelope Valley College for a 2:30 p.m. start time. 

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