Fullerton Shades Riverside, 2-1, in Orange Empire Conference game Wednesday

RIVERSIDE --  Anissa Loera socked a two-run home run in the top of the fourth and starting RHP Brigid Ruiz made it stand up in a route-going performance as the visiting Fullerton College Hornets edged the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers women's softball team, 2-1, Wednesday afternoon (Mar. 18) in an Orange Empire Conference (OEC) game at Brown Field (Evans Sports Complex).

Fullerton (14-8 overall, 5-5 OEC) opened the scoring when substitute designated player Evelyn Hernandez drew a one-out walk. Up stepped Loera, a frosh catcher from Montebello, who deposited the first pitch she saw over the left-field fence to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead.

Ruiz, a frosh from Whittier, took it from there as she went the distance for her eighth complete game of the season. Ruiz (9-5), who made 111 pitches (69 strikes), allowed six hits, one run (earned), walked two and struck out one.

Riverside (7-15 overall, 2-8 OEC), tallied its lone run in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore CF Michelle Paul (Norco / Norco HS) drew a walk and scored on a booming RBI double to center field off the bat of frosh catcher Hunter LaCroix (Norco / Norco HS).

Sophomore SS Jessica Valenzuela had three hits to pace RCC.

For Riverside, starting sophomore RHP Alexis Holman (Riverside / John W. North HS) pitched the first 4.0 innings, allowed three hits, two runs (both earned) and two walks before yielding to Magen Luna who pitched the final 3.0 innings

Fullerton returns to action on Thursday, Mar. 19, when it hosts the Saddleback College Gauchos in a 3 p.m. start. RCC will be idle until Friday, Mar. 20, when it hosts the Orange Coast College Pirates in a 2 p.m. first pitch.

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