No. 20 Canyons Wins Second Game to Split Doubleheader with No. 4 Palomar
By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
No. 20 College of the Canyons earned a split of its home doubleheader vs. No. 4 Palomar College on Saturday, falling 7-3 in the opener and then clawing out a 2-1 victory in the finale.
Canyons (23-15-1, 7-4) has now recorded wins in four of its last five games in the final stretch of the regular season. The Cougars also entered the statewide rankings for the first time this season, debuting at No. 20.
Palomar (30-7, 10-2) used a four-run fourth inning to get past starter Allyson Melgar and the Cougars in the opener. The Comets were aided by two errors in key sequences in what was otherwise a tight game.
Neither team scored in the first three innings as Melgar and Palomar starter India Caldwell (17-3) dueled from the circle.
The Cougars finally came alive with a three-run seventh inning to make things a bit closer, but ultimately took that late-game momentum into the next contest to help salvage the split.
Game 1 (7-3 Palomar victory)
A scoreless game through three innings suddenly became a 7-0 Palomar lead as the Comets plated four unearned runs in the fourth and added three more in the next inning.
Melgar (13-5) was sharp throughout but fell victim to some hard luck sequences in taking the loss. She went the full seven and struck out five batters along the way.
Caldwell had kept the Cougars hitless through six innings but came out of the game in favor of Palomar reliever Alyssa Domingo.
Domingo was tagged for three runs without recording an out after Alyssa Silva and Caitlyn Soto both got on base to begin the inning, and Ashlynn Heck tripled to bring them both home. That brought Caldwell back into the game to close things out.
Julia Fuentes singled to score Heck and extend the inning but the Cougars got no closer than the 7-3 final score.
Top Performers
- Ashlynn Heck — 1-for-3, 3B, R, 2 RBI
- Julia Fuentes — 1-for-3, RBI
- Alyssa Silva — 1-for-4, R
- Allyson Melgar — 7 IP, 3 ER, BB, 5 K
Game 2 (2-1 Canyons Victory)
COC starter Samantha Flores was remarkable in her seven innings of work to help the Cougars pick up another quality win against a highly regarded state ranked opponent.
Flores (10-10) scattered six hits in keeping the Palomar lineup off balance throughout. The win was her third in as many starts.
The Cougars plated a pair of runs in the first inning on RBI singles from Melgar and Fuentes. Melgar's knock brought home Lisa Motz while Fuentes' base hit brought in Valerie Reyes, who was pinch running for Melgar, at 2-0.
Alexia Terrazas recorded a big home run for her squad in the top of the fourth, but the damage came with nobody aboard and the Cougars remained in control at 2-1.
Palomar came up with a two-out double to threaten in the seventh, but Flores was steadfast in recording the final out and preserving the 2-1 final score.
Top Performers
- Samantha Flores — W, 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, K
- Julia Fuentes — 2-for-2, BB, SB, RBI
- Allyson Melgar – 1-for-3, RBI
- Ashlynn Heck — 1-for-3
- Memorie Muñoz — 1-for-2
Upcoming Schedule
COC will close out the regular season with a home tilt vs. Antelope Valley College (27-12, 8-3) on Tuesday, April 26. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Canyons is currently a game behind the Marauders in the Western State Conference (WSC), East Division standings. The Cougars dropped an 8-7 road result at AVC back on March 31.
Fans unable to attend Tuesday's game can view the live stream broadcast on the Cougars Sports Network.
Continue to monitor www.COCathletics.com for livestream links or subscribe to the COC Athletics channel on YouTube.
Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
—Photo by Kyle Kawamoto/COC Sports Information
