Tigers Blank Orange Coast, 4-0, Wednesday Night; RCC Visits Saddleback Friday

Tigers Blank Orange Coast, 4-0, Wednesday Night; RCC Visits Saddleback Friday

RIVERSIDE -- A'loni Appleton socked her sixth home run of the season and Laura Mendez tossed a five-hit shutout as the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers softball team blanked the visiting Orange Coast College (OCC) Pirates, 4-0, in an Orange Empire Conference (OEC) game Wednesday evening (Apr. 12) at Brown Field (Samuel C. Evans Park).
Appleton, a frosh 3B from Rialto (Grand Terrace HS), socked a 1-0 pitch over the center-field fence to give RCC a 2-0 lead. Frosh DP Marcelina Arevalo (Rialto / Fontana - Jurupa Hills HS) drew a walk ahead of Appleton and scored on Appleton's fifth round tripper of the season.
In addition to Appleton's heroics, who went three for three with two runs and two RBI, sophomore 1B Emily Wilcox (Alta Loma - Alta Loma HS) smacked a pair of doubles in two official at bats for RCC.
Sophomore starting RHP Laura Mendez (Rialto - Carter HS) -- who is pictured -- pitched 7.0 innings and scattered five singles, walked two and struck out two to improve to 11-9 for Riverside (18-15 overall, 8-7 OEC).
For Orange Coast (6-27 overall, 3-14 OEC), 3B Nala Osorio went two for four. Starting RHP Carlie Chaulsett-Utley went 6.0 innings and allowed four runs (earned), two walks and struck out one as her record fell to 4-11.
RCC will return to action on Friday, Apr. 14, when it visits the Saddleback College Gauchos in a 2 p.m. OEC start. OCC will be idle until Wednesday, Apr. 19, when it hosts the Golden West College Rustlers in a 3 p.m. OEC first pitch.

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