Canyons Wins Third Straight Conference Contest, 5-2 at Bakersfield

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director   

BAKERSFIELD — College of the Canyons continued its conference win streak with a 5-2 road win at Bakersfield College behind another strong pitching performance from Akane Gonzalez.

Canyons (13-12, 3-3) has now won three straight games vs. Western State Conference (WSC), South Division opponents. The Cougars had previously defeated L.A. Valley College earlier in the week.

Gonzalez (7-4) was in control throughout the contest scattering five hits and fanning four batters. She kept Bakersfield (13-15, 4-2) off the board until a seventh-inning rally yielded a pair of runs, one of which was unearned.

COC took a 5-0 lead into the final inning with its first strike coming in the form of Brooke Petretti's RBI single in the third.

In the fourth Skylar Vanole sent a ball into the outfield that was misplayed by the Renegades, allowing Canyons to net a pair of unearned runs.

Mia Reese recorded an RBI sac-fly in the sixth inning that brought home Alexia Mejia, who clubbed two doubles in the game.

Grace Dias accounted for the final run with another RBI sac-fly, which scored Jeniece Jimenez.

Top Performers

• Grace Dias – 1-for-3, Sac-Fly, R, RBI
• Akane Gonzalez – W (7-4), 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 K / 1-for-2, R
• Jeniece Jimenez – 2-for-4, R, SB
• Alexia Mejia – 2-for-4, 2 2B, R
• Mia Reese – 2-for-2, Sac-Fly, R, RBI, SB

Upcoming Schedule

The Cougars will 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