Softball Snaps Five Game Skid, Beats Allan Hancock

The Riverside City College softball team hit the road for a non-conference contest against the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers rode strong pitching and the long ball leading to a 5-3 win.

Sophomore starter Carrah Van Houten toed the rubber for the ninth time this season and was on the hunt for her first win of the year. She was effective early despite a handful of walks and allowing one run in the bottom of the second inning. She recorded three strikeouts in her first two innings and retired the side in the third inning to keep the Tigers in the driver's seat.

Riverside scored their first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning compliments of an RBI double to left center field from sophomore catcher Alicia Rivera. Freshman shortstop Sophia Franco-Colis, who reach base on a double through the right side, scored on the play.

The Bulldogs answered the following inning with a run, but the Tigers went on to score four more runs in the following two frames.

Freshman designated player Jasmine Lara barreled an RBI double to left center field, plating freshman second baseman Ahylie Rosales.

The sixth inning was the back breaker as the long ball came to haunt the Bulldogs. Freshman first baseman Alicia Fitzgerald led off the inning with a solo blast, baked by a two-run dinger from A. Rivera to hand the Tigers a 5-3 lead.

Lara, who entered in the bottom of the fifth inning, slammed the door shut in the bottom of the seventh inning thus handing the Tigers a victory.

Rivera went 2-for-3 with a two run bomb, while A. Rosales went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. So. Franco-Colis stayed hot with a 2-for-4 day.

Van Houten (1-8) picked up her first win of the season by tossing five innings and punching out five batters. Lara earned her first career save.