Photo by Bobby R. Hester
Photo by Bobby R. Hester

No. 9 Softball Snaps Two-Game Skid with Win Over SBVC

On a rainy day at Evans Sports Complex, the No. 9 Riverside City College softball team hosted the neighboring San Bernardino College Wolverines in a non-conference contest on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers rode a strong performance in the circle from sophomore starter Synphony Hall (Rialto, CA) leading to a 5-1 victory and snapping a two-game losing skid.

Hall was efficient in her performance as she earned the start and tossed her sixth complete game of the season. She utilized a nearly flawless defense while only fanning a pair of batters. She only chucked 71 pitches and scattered three hits in the contest to prove her effectiveness in the circle.

The only blunder Hall experienced was a solo homerun in the top of the second inning. The Tigers responded in the bottom of the fourth inning compliments of an RBI single from sophomore catcher Aeriel Carlson (Highland, CA), scoring sophomore third baseman Terri Nava (Yucca Valley, CA), to tie the ball game at one apiece.

After blanking the Wolverines in the top of the fifth inning, Riverside etched a three spot on the board in the bottom of the frame. Carlson came through with a sacrifice fly to plate sophomore right fielder Kayla Giannatasio (Corona, CA). Sophomore designated player A'loni Appleton (Rialto, CA) followed by putting the ball in play to force an error on the Wolverines' second baseman, scoring sophomore shortstop Kailee Gilbert (Moreno Valley, CA) and sophomore center fielder Megan Cartwright (Corona, CA), leading to a 4-1 advantage.

Cartwright added another run in the following frame by laying down a perfect bunt on the third base line allowing Giannatasio to score thus leading to a 5-1 win.

Hall earned her seventh win of the season after traveling the distance. Cartwright went 2-for-3 at the dish while scoring one run, while Carlson went 1-for-2 with a single, sacrifice fly, and two RBI.

The Tigers (12-6, 3-2 OEC) will return to conference action by facing off against the Santiago Canyon Hawks on Wednesday, March 7 at 2 p.m. at home.