Cougars Power to Second Straight Conference Win
By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
College of the Canyons pounded out 13 hits in a shortened 12-4 five-inning win over L.A. Valley College on Tuesday, to win its second straight conference game.
Canyons (12-12, 2-3) has now bookended conference wins over Glendale College and LAVC between a pair of home losses vs. Orange Coast College on March 22.
The Monarchs (11-16-1, 0-5) took a brief 1-0 lead in the first inning but were otherwise playing catchup through most of the contest.
Yahali Gonzalez came around to score on a passed ball that tied that game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first. In the next inning it was Brooke Petretti's two-run single putting Canyons ahead 3-1. Petretti later came around to score on a wild pitch.
L.A. Valley was able to plate three runs and find new life in the third, tying the game at 4-4 with a pair of run-scoring singles. However, Canyons answered right back.
Skylar Vanole's RBI triple gave COC the lead back at 5-4. Three batters later Petretti cleared the basees once again with a three-run triple to seize clear control at 8-4. After Petretti made her way home on an infield error Krista Viereck tripled in a run of her own to make it a 10-4 ballgame.
In the fourth Mia Reese doubled in another run before coming in to score on Yahali Gonzalez' RBI base hit, ending the scoring at 12-4.
COC pitcher Akane Gonzalez (6-4) earned the win after pitching two and 2/3 innings of relief and scattering three hits. She took over from starter Nichole Muro who lasted the first two and 1/3 innings and was charged with four runs, two earned, with a pair of walks and two strikeouts.
LAVC starter Jovanna Ross (3-5) suffered the loss in her two and 2/3 innings of work.
Top Performers
- Alexia Mejia – 2-for-3, 2 R, SB
- Akane Gonzalez – W (6-4), 2.2 IP, 3 H, K
- Yahali Gonzalez – 1-for-1, BB, 3 R, RBI, 2 SB
- Jeniece Jimenez – 1-for-3, BB, R, RBI
- Brooke Petretti – 3-for-4, 3B, 2 R, 5 RBI, 3 SB
- Mia Reese – 2-for-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, SB
Upcoming Schedule
Canyons next travels to Bakersfield College for a 2:30 p.m. start time on Thursday, March 27.
The Cougars will then host a non-conference doubleheader vs. Cerritos College on Saturday, March 29. Those games will be livestreamed to fans free of charge on the Cougars Sports Network.
Conference play then resumes Tuesday, April 1, for a 2:30 p.m. start time at Citrus College.
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 Carla Sophia Velasco/COC Sports Information