Back-to-back Home Runs Are the Difference as Tigers Edge Ventura, 2-1

RIVERSIDE – Courtney Brown and Katherine Macias blasted back-to-back homeruns as the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers women's fastpitch softball team shaded the visiting Ventura College (VC) Pirates, 2-1, to sweep the best-two-of-three Southern California Regional Playoff series Sunday evening (May 5) at Brown Field (Evans Sports Complex).

 

Riverside – the top-ranked team in Southern California (and tied for first in the state) – improved to 38-3 with the win, its fifth consecutive win, and 30^th in its last 32 games. The 38 victories ties a club record when the 2003 squad was 38-13. RCC continues to be undefeated at home (17-0). Ventura, seeded No. 16 in the regionals, fell to 20-19 with the loss and has finished its season.

 

The Tigers fell behind, 1-0, in the bottom of the third when Ventura freshman CF Ashley Thorpe (Ojai / Chaparral HS) socked a 0-1 pitch from Macias for a solo home run down the left-field line. Sophomore C Candice Garcia (Camarillo / Oxnard HS) then drilled a 0-2 Macias offering for a double off the left-field fence to get the locals a little worried. Garcia went two for three to aid the Pirates' cause.

 

Undaunted, Brown – a sophomore 3B from Yucaipa (Yucaipa HS) – jumped on a 3-1 pitch and blasted it over the center-field fence for her eighth home run of the season. The next batter, Macias (who also went the distance in the circle for the Tigers) helped her own cause by drilling a 3-2 delivery to right field for her 16^th round tripper of the season.

 

Macias – a sophomore from Riverside – Arlington HS / Yavapai CC – Prescott, AZ – allowed just the one earned run on five hits, walked none, and struck out seven to improve to 14-0. Her counterpart, Ventura freshman starting RHP Alexandria Thorpe (Ojai / Nordhoff HS), was nearly as effective (except for the home runs) as she allowed two runs (both earned) on six hits with one walk and one strikeout as her record fell to 20-19.

 

With the series win, Riverside advances to host a four-team, double-elimination Super Regional for the first time in its history against three other teams to be determined later today. The Riverside-hosted Super Regional will be scheduled on Friday through Sunday, May 10-12. Because of the availability of lights at Brown Field, Friday's games will be at 5:30 and 8 p.m., Saturday's games will be at 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday's games will be scheduled for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., if the 2 p.m. is necessary.