Softball Takes Down Saddleback in Conference Action

The Riverside City College softball team has picked up play in a positive way in mid-March as they have won three of their last five entering into an Orange Empire Conference (OEC) showdown against the Saddleback College Gauchos on Friday night. A gutsy performance from freshman starting pitcher Erika Gibbs carted the Tigers to a much-needed win by the final score of 8-6.

The Tigers were backed into a corner from the get go as a two-run homerun from Saddleback's three-hole hitter immediately put them in the deficit. However, a two-run bottom of the first inning brought them right back in it.

Freshman third baseman Marina Montalvo led the inning off with a single and promptly advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from freshman first baseman Adrianna Montalvo. Sophomore center fielder Sophia Franco-Colis kept the inning going by punching a base hit to center field. M. Montalvo and So. Franco-Colis came around to score on an error by the center fielder, bring the score to two-all.

Gibbs held the Bobcats scoreless in the second inning as she worked out of a mini jam by retiring the final hitter of the inning on a flyout to sophomore right fielder Alexis Pelayo.

The Bobcats struck again in the top of the third inning with a run, but Riverside promptly responded. M. Montalvo stayed hot with a one-out single to second base to keep the offensive train chugging. She later came around to score on a fielder's choice off the bat of freshman left fielder Alyssa Carlisle. Freshman designated player Summer Sanders earned the start and came through with a single down the right field line two batters later, plating So. Franco Colis. Freshman Giuliana Danovaro capped the inning with a bases-loaded walk to grab a 5-3 lead.

Gibbs went back to work and chucked three-consecutive scoreless innings to hold the two-run advantage. She had some defensive help from Danavaro in the top of the fifth inning as she picked off a runner at third base.

Riverside added three crucial insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning highlighted by a RBI double to right center off the bat of Pelayo. So. Franco-Colis continued ot cart a hot bat as she lined a two-out, RBI double down the right field line, scoring Danavaro, eventually leading to an 8-6 win.

Gibbs (2-5) went the distance by allowing nine hits and five earned runs.

So. Franco-Colis led the offense by going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Freshman shortstop Destinee Gonzales and Pelayo had the lone extra base knocks of the game.