Softball Reels in Two Wins

The Riverside City College softball team hosted a pair of competitors at home at Evans Sports Complex on Friday. They began the day by facing off against Orange Empire Conference (OEC) foe Orange Coast College backed by a non-conference showdown against the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs. The Tigers earned two wins by displaying dominant pitching and timely offense.

Game One

Freshman arm Riley Peckels (Moreno Valley, CA) graced the mound for her ninth start of the season after throwing a no hitter against the Golden West College Rustlers in her previous outting. She continued to roll by blanking the Pirates through the first five innings. She retired the first six batter she faced to put Riverside in a great spot to attack offensively.

The Tigers broke through in the bottom of third inning after sophomore shortstop Kailee Gilbert (Moreno Valley, CA) and sophomore third baseman Terri Nava (Yucca Valley, CA) reached base. Sophomore catcher Aeriel Carlson (Highland, CA) sent both of them home with a double to left field. Sophomore designated player A'loni Appleton (Rialto, CA) capped the inning off with an RBI double to grab a 3-0 advantage.

Freshman second baseman Breanna Ceballos (Ontario, CA) added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning with a single to center field, scoring Carlson, leading to a 4-0 lead.

Sophomore Synphony Hall (Rialto, CA) entered in the game in the sixth inning and slammed the door to earn her third save of the year leading to a 4-2 victory.

Game Two

It was all Riverside in game two with the engine firing on all cylinders. Hall, who earned the save in the previous game, was awarded the start in the second game seeking her 10^th win of the season. She carted a no-hitter two outs into the top of the sixth inning before allowing a hit. She fanned seven batters in the process.

The Tiger offense was stronger than ever. They barreled 13 total hits highlighted by a five-run third inning. Carslon continued to boast a hot stick by sending a RBI double to left-center field, scoring Nava. After Appleton reached on an error allowing Carlson to come around and score, freshman first baseman Jocelyn Ontiveros (Riverside, CA) followed with an RBI double. Freshman right fielder Kayla Giannatasio (Corona, CA) pushed across Ontiveros on a fielder's choice and later came around to score on an error leading to a 6-0 advantage after three innings.

Riverside continued on to score two runs in each remaining inning leading to a 12-4 victory.

Hall earned her 10^th win of the year after tossing a complete game and fanning seven batters. Nava went 4-for-6 on the day with two RBI and four runs scored.

The Tigers (17-6, 7-2 OEC) will hit the road for a conference game on Wednesday, March 21^st at 3 p.m. against the Saddleback College Gauchos.