Saddleback No Contest for Softball in Mercy Rule Victory

The Riverside City College softball team took to Orange Empire Conference (OEC) action on Friday evening by hosting the Saddleback College Gauchos for their third and final showdown of the year. The Tigers were firing on all cylinders leading to a 12-0 mercy rule victory to sweep the season series.

Riverside barreled 11 hits while plating 11 runs. Sophomore designated player Kailee Gilbert acted as the big bat for the Tigers by going 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. She launched her first homerun of the season in the bottom of the third inning, scoring sophomore right fielder Kayla Giannatasio and sophomore catcher Diana Ramirez, pushing her RBI total to 22 on the season.

The long ball was contagious as sophomore third baseman A'loni Appleton set the tone with a round tripper to left-center field in the bottom of the first inning to score sophomore left fielder Dayna Gutierrez and Gilbert.

Hidden behind the dominant offense was a stellar pitching performance from sophomore Synphony Hall. She traveled the distance as she tossed her 10 complete game of the season and third in conference play. She fanned four batters and allowed a mere hit.

The Tigers (23-12, 10-7 OEC) sit in fourth place and will continue action at home on Wednesday, April 18^th against the Cypress College Chargers (28-5, 15-2 OEC), who sit in first place, at 5 p.m. at home.