Riverside Shades Visiting Allan Hancock, 1-0, Friday On Cartwright's RBI Single in Sixth

RIVERSIDE -- Megan Cartwright laced a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to break a scoreless tie and the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers softball team shaded the visiting Allan Hancock College (AHC) Bulldogs, 1-0, in a non-conference game Friday evening (Mar. 10) at Brown Field (Samuel C. Evans Sports Complex).

It was RCC's second shutout of the day as the Tigers earlier defeated the Golden West College Rustlers, 13-0, in a Orange Empire Conference (OEC) game which was shortened to 4-1/2 innings due to the (eight-) run rule.

Cartwright, a frosh CF from Corona (Norco - Norco HS), turned on a 0-1 pitch and sent a line drive into right field to drive in frosh SS Kailee Giannatasio (Corona - Santiago HS), who drew a one-out walk and advance to second on a bunt single by frosh LF Dayna Gutierrez (Hemet - Paloma Valley HS). Cartwright went two for three for Riverside City (9-7 overall).

Sophomore starting RHP Laura Mendez (Rialto - Carter HS), who is pictured, pitched 3.0 innings earlier in the day to gain the win over Golden West, and went the distance against AHC, allowing only four hits and one walk with three strikeouts to gain this win as well and improve to 7-4.

"This is the kind of game we thought she was capable of pitching when we recruited her," said 18-year RCC head softball coach Michelle Daddona.

Frosh LF Isabella Partida went two for three for Allan Hancock (11-3 overall). Hard-luck starting frosh RHP Bailey Killough scattered six hits, walked two and struck out four as she sustained her first loss of the season (7-1).

AHC will next compete on Saturday, Mar. 11, when it visits the Mt. San Jacinto College Eagles in a non-conference game. RCC will next play on Wednesday, Mar. 15, when it hosts the Fullerton College Hornets in an OEC game.

-30-