Cypress Tops Tigers, 5-1, in OEC Action Wednesday

RIVERSIDE -- Taylor Pierce allowed only one run (earned) on two hits with one walk and nine strikeouts to pace the Cypress College Chargers to a 5-1 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) win over the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers women's softball team Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 24) at Brown Field (Evans Sports Complex).

Cypress (7-1 overall, 3-0 OEC) scored twice (one earned) in the top of the first inning to lead for good. Frosh RF Justice Walker (Huntington Beach HS) singled, stole second and scored on a RBI single by frosh 1B Jenny Vasquez (Norwalk HS). Vasquez later scored an unearned run on a fielder's choice.

In the top of the seventh inning, frosh 3B Tobi Salzman (Mission Viejo HS) helped break the game open when she hit a RBI single to make the score 5-1. Salzman went three for four with two RBI for the Chargers.

Pierce, who made 111 pitches (82 strikes), improved to 3-1 with the complete game. 

RCC sophomore 1B Jordan Emanuele (Norco HS) singled to lead off the bottom of the first and then drove in the Tigers' only run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning. Frosh RF Carlie Galvez (Hesperia HS), who was hit by a pitch, came to the plate on Emanuele's scoring fly ball for Riverside (5-4 overall, 1-2 OEC).

Frosh starting LHP Emily Wilcox (Alta Loma HS) deserved a better fate. Wilcox went the distance and allowed the five runs (three earned) on nine hits, walked none and struck out two as her record fell to 3-2.

Both teams return to OEC action on Friday, Feb. 26. Riverside will visit the Santa Ana College Dons at 2 p.m. before Cypress hosts the Golden West College Rustlers at 3 p.m.

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