Softball Snaps Four Game Skid against Antelope Valley

The Riverside City College softball team was facing a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh inning up 5-3 with two outs against the Antelope Valley College Marauders. The Tigers were riding a four-game losing streak with hopes of getting the final out of the inning to snapping their uncharacteristic skid.

After two quick outs, the Marauders were hunting for the game-tying run in the top of the seventh inning, which was sitting on second base, to send the game into the bottom half of the frame. However, freshman starting pitcher Jazmine Lara forced a game-ending groundout to sophomore shortstop Kenneth Litana en route to a 5-3 win.

Lara battled the entire game and fended off a pesky Antelope Valley offense that scattered three runs on eight hits. She stranded eight runners on base to minimize the damage. She only struck out one batter, but walked just two batters and consistently pounded the zone.

The Marauders tagged her for two runs through the first two innings, but she stayed true to her approach and allowed just one more run throughout the remainder of her complete game outing.

Offensively, the Tigers came out swinging after being retired in order in the bottom of the first inning.  They plated their first run in the second inning after working the bases loaded on three singles. Freshman third baseman Cheyanne Becerra, who lead the inning off with a single to right center field, came around to score after freshman right fielder Janelle Malone was hit by a pitch.

Riverside tied the game at two-all in the bottom of the third inning after on a fielder's choice from Becerra. Freshman center fielder Tessah Black came across to score after she led off the inning with a single to left field.

After the Marauders took the lead in the fourth inning, Riverside followed by putting up three runs in the ensuing two frames. Back-to-back knocks from freshman first baseman Alicia Fitzgerald and Becerra set up a two-RBI single up the middle from sophomore catcher Alicia Rivera. In the following frame, Rivera struck again by punching a single to left, plating freshman pinch runner Lelani Rosales, leading to a 5-3 win.

Lara (1-2) earned her first-career win after going the distance and striking out one batter.

Rivera went 3-for-3 with three RBI and a walk, while Becerra followed with a 3-for-4 day with a double and two runs scored.