Santiago Canyon Blanks Riverside, 8-0, in Thursday Softball Action

RIVERSIDE -- The visiting Santiago Canyon College (SCC) Hawks erupted for six runs in the top of the first inning and went on to post an 8-0 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) road victory over the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers softball team Thursday afternoon (Mar. 30) at Brown Field (Samuel C. Evans Park).

The game concluded after five innings due to the eight-run rule.

After the first-inning uprising, Santiago Canyon (19-7-1, 10-3 OEC, second place) also received solo home runs from 3B Manoa Weijgertse, who socked circuit clouts in the second and fourth innings to account for the 8-0 final score. Weijgertse went two for two with two RBI and three runs scored to pace the Hawks.

Frosh starting RHP Kristen Piazza (Anaheim) went the distance (5.0 innings) for SCC. She allowed only two singles, zero walks and struck out two as her won-lost record improved to 12-4. RCC starting sophomore RHP Laura Mendez (Rialto - Carter HS) lasted only one-third of an inning and allowed six runs (five earned) on four hits and two walks as her redcord dipped to 7-7.

For Riverside City (11-12 overall, 5-7 OEC), the Tigers had singles by frosh DP Marcelina Arevalo (Rialto / Fontana - Jurupa Hills HS) in the third inning and sophomore 1B Emily Wilcox (Alta Loma - Alta Loma HS) in the fourth inning.

Both teams will next play on Saturday, April 1. Santiago Canyon will face the Palomar College Comets (at Mt. San Antonio College) at 4 p.m. before facing the host Mounties at 6 p.m. RCC will face the Merced College Blue Devils (at Bakersfield College) at 2 p.m. before facing the host Renegades at 4 p.m.

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