Lady Cougars Take Two at Moorpark College
By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
MOORPARK — College of the Canyons swept a non-conference doubleheader at Moorpark College on Friday, snapping the Raiders' 17-game win streak in the process.
Canyons (15-17, 5-4) has now won three of its last four outings and currently sits in a tie for fourth in the Western State Conference (WSC), South Division standings. The Lady Cougars sit 1.5 games back of L.A. Mission College (20-11, 6-2) in the top spot. Last week, COC defeated LAMC in a walk-off 3-2 victory to give head coach John Wissmath his 400th career win at the college. Moorpark (25-8, 11-0) had not suffered a loss since March 5, a span of 17 consecutive games.
In the opener, Canyons feel behind 2-0 in the early going but responded with a six-run second inning to put COC starter Nichole Muro back in control.
Muro (8-10) allowed runs in each of the first three innings before settling in and earning her second win across her last three starts. She was charged with four earned runs on seven hits and four walks.
COC got the scoring started with a second-inning RBI double from Lily Baggot. Later, a Hayley Neale base hit combined with a Moorpark error allowed Baggot to come around and score to tie the game at 2-2.
The Raider's miscues continued on Alexia Mejia's base hit and subsequent error that brought Neale home at 3-2. Ryan Shepherd's two-run single then put Canyons in front at 5-2 after two full innings. Neale added another RBI base hit in third inning as part of the 7-4 final score.
In game two, it was Canyons scoring in each of the last three innings to come back from a 5-1 disadvantage.
Moorpark scored two in the second and two more in the fifth to seemingly position itself for victory. However, COC pushed across an unearned run in the sixth on another Raiders' fielding error. Later, Paige Pikor singled to plate Brooke Petretti, cutting into the lead at 5-3.
Canyons tied the game at 5-5 in the seventh on a two-run play off of Petretti's bat, while Raiders' errors again played a role. Moorpark was charged with four fielding errors in game two, and a combined 10 on the day.
Gigi Garcia moved the Lady Cougars ahead 6-5 with a base hit that closed out the scoring in the seventh. In the home half of the inning, however, Moorpark knotted the game at 6-6 with a home run by Maddy Mekeri pushing the contest into extra innings.
In the eighth, Lexy Angulo came up with a two-run single that scored Pikor and Baggot and put COC ahead at 8-6.
Angulo also pitched three innings in relief of Muro, allowing two runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout. Muro tossed the first five and was charged with five earned runs on eight hits and a walk.
Moorpark attempted to extend this once again, scoring a lone run in the eighth before things ended at 8-7.
Top Performers Game 1
- Lily Baggot – 1-for-4, 2B, R, RBI
- Alexia Mejia – 2-for-3, R, RBI
- Nichole Muro – 1-for-3 / W (8-10), 7 IP, 4 ER, 4 BB, K
- Hayley Neale – 2-for-3, R, 2 RBI
- Ryan Shepherd – 1-for-4, R, 2 RBI
Top Performers Game 2
- Lexy Angulo – 2-for-4, 2 RBI / W (7-7), 3 IP, ER, BB, K
- Gigi Garcia – 2-for-4, RBI
- Kate Garcia – 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 SB
- Brooke Petretti – 1-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI
- Paige Pikor – 2-for-4, R, RBI
Upcoming Schedule
Canyons will play another non-conference road doubleheader vs. Fullerton College on Monday, April 15, with games scheduled for 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
The Lady Cougars return home Tuesday, April 16 vs. L.A. Valley College for a 2:30 p.m. first pitch. Prior to first pitch the COC Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter's nearly 40 years of service to the district.
The dedication ceremony begins at 1:15 p.m. inside the team room located at Whitten Field and will be followed by pre-game snacks and refreshments leading up to game time. As part of the celebration current and former college faculty and staff, educational and business colleagues, family, friends, and supporters are all invited to attend the ceremony. Attendees are asked to RSVP in advance by calling (661) 362-3742.
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.