Softball Leans on Long Ball in Second-Straight Win

The Riverside City College softball team continued what is shaping up to be a busy end of March by facing off against the Orange Coast College Pirates on the road Monday afternoon. The Tigers leaned on the long ball and some crooked numbers leading to an 11-8 win.

Riverside came rushing out of the gates leading to four runs in the top of the first inning. Freshman first baseman Marina Montalvo led the inning off with a single to right field. She quickly advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from freshman third baseman Adrianna Montalvo.  The inning continued with sophomore center fielder Sophia Franco-Colis drawing a walk, backed by a single from sophomore pitcher Chloe Lockhart two batters later.

The dagger came off the bat of freshman left fielder Alyssa Carlisle who launched a grand slam dead center to hand the Tigers a 4-0 lead.

The Pirates trimmed the lead to 4-3 after they connected for a three-run homerun, but another run from the Tigers in the second inning via sacrifice fly from So. Franco-Colis brought the score to 5-3.

Lockhart began to settle in the circle by holding the Pirates scoreless for the following three innings. They weren't perfect as she worked out of two jams, but retired the side in order in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Tigers added a handful of insurance runs by plating five tuns in the top of the sixth inning. Sophomore second baseman Sarah Franco-Colis stayed hot by barreling a two-RBI double to left center field, plating A. Montalvo and freshman shortstop Destinee Gonzales. The longball became infectious as Lockhart connected for a three-run jack a batter later, eventually leading to an 11-8 win.

Lockhart went off by going 3-for-4 with a three-run homerun, three RBI and two runs scored. Additionally, she threw seven innings and struck out two batters leading to her seventh win of the season.

Carlisle went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, while M. Montalvo went 3-for-5. Freshman catcher Cassidy Cooper connected for three hits, while Sa. Franco-Colis and Gonzales each recorded two base knocks.