Riverside Posts 4-1 Home Win over Antelope Valley

RIVERSIDE – Taking a break from conference competition, the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers women's fastpitch softball team led from start to finish with a 4-1 non-conference home win over the visiting Antelope Valley College (AVC) Marauders Thursday afternoon (Mar. 28) at Brown Field (Evans Sports Complex).

 

Riverside (27-2) scored once in the first and sixth innings, and twice in the third.

 

In the bottom of the first, sophomore SS Natalie Barrios (Corona – Centennial HS) dumped a pop-fly single in to short right-center field, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman CF Desiree Broussard (Moreno Valley – Valley View HS). Barrios and Broussard each had two hits and one RBI to pace the Tigers.

 

In the third, freshman LF Alexus Daniels (Riverside – John W. North HS) laid down a bunt for a base hit and continued on to second (getting credit for a double) when the pitcher was late in getting back to the circle. Daniels scored on a ground ball double through the left side by Barrios. After Barrios was caught trying to steal third, Broussard singled to right-center field and scored on a double to right-center field by sophomore 3B Courtney Brown (Yucaipa – Yucaipa HS) for a 3-1 RCC lead.

 

Antelope Valley (13-14), which stranded ten base runners, including the bases loaded in the sixth and seventh, scored in the top of the sixth. Three walks sandwiched around a double by sophomore 2B Breanne Farinas (Tehachapi) aided the cause. Freshman LF Vanessa Jimenez (Granada Hills), who walked to open the inning, scored when sophomore CF Taylor Anderson (Canyon Country) drew a walk to force her in.

 

Sophomore RHP Chelsea Ponce (Norwalk / San Bernardino – Cajon HS) went the distance (seven innings) and allowed just the one run (earned) on six hits and five walks. She struck out five on 108 pitches (65 strikes) to improve to 13-1 (with two saves). AVC starting freshman RHP Hannah Ulibarri (Barstow) went the distance (six innings), but allowed four runs (all earned) on seven hits. She walked none and struck out five, but saw her record dip to 5-2.

 

AVC will return to Foothill Conference action tomorrow, Friday, March 29, when it hosts the San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines at 3 p.m. Riverside will be idle until Wednesday, April 3, when it visits the Saddleback College Gauchos at 3 p.m.