Softball Comes Out Swinging to Snap Five-Game Skid

It was a rollercoaster of a contest on Saturday afternoon as the Riverside City College softball team hosted the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs in non-conference action. Riverside jumped out to an early lead by plating 10 runs through the first three frames, but the Bulldogs battled back to pull within three after five and a half innings to set up a stage for dramatics.

After a quick first inning at the dish, the Tigers erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman right fielder Brooklyn Corns drove in the first runs of the game on a double to left-center field, plating sophomores Sarah Franco-Colis and Alicia Fitzgerald.

After a single off the bat of freshman shortstop Adrianna Montalvo, freshman designated player Giuliana Danovaro punched a triple down the right field line, sending Corns and A. Montalvo home. Freshman third baseman Marina Montalvo followed a batter later with a two-bagger to right-center field to score Danovaro.

Fitzgerald, who had already barreled a single up the middle in the inning, stepped up foor the second time and launched a three-run blast over the center field wall to hand the Tigers an 8-0 lead.

Sophomore starting pitcher Chloe Lockhart was nearly untouchable through her first three frames. She did not allow a single hit and issuing just one walk. She capped her third inning of work by retiring the final batter via strikeout.

The Tigers continued to put bat to ball in the third inning as they etched two more runs. A. Montalvo squared up a one-out single to center field and promptly swiped second base. Danovaro was issued a free pass, backed by sophomore center fielder Sophia Franco-Colis reaching base on an attempted sacrifice bunt. This allowed Danovaro and A. Montalvo to come across home on the throw, snagging a 10-0 led.

Allan Hancock recorded their first hit and two runs of the game in the fourth inning. Lockhart carted a no-no into the fourth, but it was quickly squashed by allowed a two-run home run. An unearned run came around to score with two outs in the inning as well.

Riverside's bats cooled down after the third inning, while the Bulldogs began to heat up. They scored seven runs over the ensuing five frames to bring the score to 10-7.

Despite simmering at the plate, the Tigers turned on the burners one last time by scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to keep the Bulldogs at bay. After M. Montalvo came around to score on a double play ball, Sa. Franco-Colis put the game out of reach by mashing a two-run bomb that cleared the wall by at least 30 feet.

Freshman reliver Ereka Gibbs (Sv, 1) entered in the top of the fifth inning and pitch effectively. She tossed three strong innings, allowing just three hits leading to two runs. She earned her first career save in the process.

Lockhart (2-3) pocketed the win after tossing four inning and scattering five runs on five hits.

Sa. Franco-Colis went 3-for-4 with a double, two-run homerun three RBI and two runs scored. Fitzgerald followed by going 2-for-4 with a three-run nuke and two runs scored.

All but one Tiger recorded a hit.