PANTHERS OPEN SEASON WITH DOUBLE WIN
The Chaffey Softball team, 2022 Inland Empire Conference Champions, hosted the Moorpark Raiders on 2023 opening day at Panther Field. Even though the Panthers return seven athletes from that team, including 5 All-Conference selections, it was the performances by a number of freshmen who saved the day, giving Chaffey an 8-5 and 6-0 doubleheader sweep.
In game 1, the Raiders quickly took a 5-0 lead in the 2nd inning, but the Panthers were undeterred, cutting into the deficit when freshman Katie Avellaneda (Rancho Cucamonga) knocked in a pair with a 2nd-inning single.
Chaffey loaded the bases in the third on a single and a pair of hit batters. That brought up freshman first baseman Hailey Marquez (Bonita), who hit her first collegiate homer, a grand slam, giving Chaffey the lead for good. Marquez, who went 3-5 at the plate, later added an RBI single in the game.
Freshman pitcher Tori Morton (Roosevelt) tossed five innings of 4-hit ball for the win, giving way to freshman teammate Lexy Naranjo (Norco), who pitched two scoreless innings for the save.
All-IEAC center fielder Alyah Rueff (Baldwin Park), went 3-3 with a pair of stolen bases. Avellaneda finished 2-4 and sophomore Lorissa Avila (AB Miller) scored a pair of runs.
Naranjo took care of game 2 in the circle, scattering 7 hits and no walks in the complete-game shutout.
Offensively, Marquez capped her day by hitting for the doubleheader cycle, adding a double and triple (and the game's first RBI), to finish 5-8 on the day with 6 RBI and 3 runs scored.
Freshman catcher Viki Esparza (Chino) went 2-3 at the plate with a double, a run and an RBI while sophomore Lexi Alaniz-Diaz (Rancho Cucamonga) added a 2-RBI single. Chaffey finished game two with 7 extra-base hits (4 doubles and 3 triples).
Submitted by Head Coach Jerry Tivey
