No. 1-ranked Cypress Tops Host Riverside, 11-3, Wednesday

RIVERSIDE – Scoring early and often, the Cypress College Chargers posted an 11-3 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) road win over the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers women's fastpitch softball team Wednesday afternoon (Apr. 13) at Brown Field (Samuel C. Evans Sports Complex).

Cypress (29-4, overall, 17-0 OEC), ranked No. 1 in the state in the latest (Apr. 8) California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association (CCCFCA) poll, showed that it was worthy of that lofty attainment as it built leads of 1-0, 4-1, and 7-1 after 2-1/2 innings before decisioning the Tigers in five innings with the eight-run mercy rule in effect.

Cypress frosh catcher Jezz Portillo (Garden Grove) drove in the first run of the game with a RBI single in the top of the first inning for a 1-0 lead. Frosh RF Justice Walker (Huntington Beach) socked a three-run home run to center field in the second inning to break a 1-1 tie and give the Chargers a 4-1 lead.

Portillo went three for four with one run scored and the one RBI. Walker also went three for four with two runs scored and four RBI to pace the Chargers.

For Riverside City (13-19 overall, 5-11 OEC), frosh SS Danielle Lopez (Redlands / Redlands East Valley HS '15) smacked a solo home run in the bottom of the first to get the Tigers on the scoreboard at 1-1. It was Lopez' eighth circuit clout of the season.

In the third, RCC starting frosh RHP Laura Mendez (Rialto / Wilmer Amina Carter HS '15) -- who is pictured -- socked her second home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center field as RCC trailed, 7-2. Sophomore catcher Hunter LaCroix (Norco / Norco HS '14) added a RBI single to conclude the Tigers' scoring.  

Cypress frosh RHP Vanessa Ledesma (Anaheim) came on in relief with two outs in the fourth inning and recorded the final four outs to gain credit for the win (14-1) as the starter did not pitch a full four innings.

Mendez went the distance (5.0 innings) for RCC and allowed all 11 runs (all earned) on 16 hits and one walk with one strikeout as her record fell to 7-12.

Both teams return to action on Friday, Apr. 15, when RCC will visit the Santa Ana College Dons with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. Cypress will host the Golden West College Rustlers one hour later at 3 p.m.

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