CYPRESS, CA- Charger softball (22-3, 9-1 OEC) took two wins in a doubleheader feature against the Canyons Cougars (13-8, 5-2 WSC) on Monday afternoon.
Game One vs Canyons, 5-0 (Cypress)
To start the week, Cypress College welcomed heat and sunshine for two games against the Cougars. In the first matchup, it was a scoreless effort from both offenses until the fifth.
The Chargers broke through for two runs after they executed small ball and a sacrifice fly. With bases loaded, Lizbeth Gomez hit a comebacker up the middle which went through the infield to tally the game's first run. One batter later, Mikala Jacobsen flew out to center which allowed Kaitlyn Reynolds to slide into home.
Cypress exploded on the scoreboard for three runs in their final offensive opportunity. In the sixth, the bases were busy as the Chargers excelled with runners in scoring position. Reynolds came up to bat with bags full and laced a single as runners went station to station. Camryn Addimando followed with a sacrifice fly and Jacobsen hit in her second RBI on the day.
The home team held their lead and kept the Cougars bats scoreless to close out the win, 5-0. Jacobsen had a successful day at the plate as she went 1-2, with two RBIs from her single and sacrifice fly. Reynolds was one of three Chargers who had multi-hit games and also tallied an RBI and run scored. Emily Rush pitched the teams second complete game shutout of the week as she only allowed two hits and struck out three.
Game Two vs Canyons Cougars, 8-7 (Cypress)
The low scoring first game did not carry into the second face-off. Canyons got on the base paths and scoreboard early with a top of the first grand slam from Julia Fuentes. The home team looked to respond in their first at bats.
Rush led off with a double and Jaylene Duarte reached from an error after a 12-pitch appearance. Reynolds hit a high fly ball to deep left field which allowed Rush to tag and score the first run for the Chargers. With runners on the corners, Curiel hit a hard ground ball under the second baseman's glove. The ball rolled to the right center fence as Addmindo and Duarte were waved home to touch the plate. Down by one run, Gomez placed a sacrifice bunt down to score Curiel to tie the game at four.
The offensive action continued into the bottom of the second. Cypress made a quick comeback and went on top in the bottom of the second. After Vanessa Correa pinch ran and stole second, Duarte singled her in for the 5-4 advantage.
Canyons were not down long as they struck for one run of their own at the top of the third frame to knot it up. A frame later, the Cougars took the lead again after a Charger and RBI single. After a quiet fifth inning, the visiting team scored an insurance run to go up by two in the sixth inning.
The Chargers attempted to get back on top in the bottom of the frame. Gomez began the team's rally when she launched a home run over the left field wall. To tie the game, Jaiden Stern clutched up for an RBI double that split the left center gap. Rush followed with a deep fly to left field that gave the opportunity for Ashlynn Ortiz to tag and score the winning run.
Cypress held the one run lead and won the second game 8-7. Gomez came in clutch as she went 1-2 with a run scored, two RBI and home run in the bottom of the sixth. Rush was responsible for the eighth run as she did her job with a RBI sacrifice fly out, run scored and double. Reynolds started the game with her one inning pitched and Rush came in for the remainder of the game. With their two wins, Cypress tallied their 21st and 22nd victory of the season and stayed atop of the OEC.
UP NEXT: The Chargers are set to host the Santa Ana Dons for a conference matchup on Wednesday, March 29th. First pitch will be at 2pm.
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